By Shelby Brooks
On Monday 8 of August, a new exhibition illustrating the journey from ignition to recovery in the communities impacted by the 2019 Bunyip Complex Fires began at the Cardinia Cultural Centre,
Cardinia Shire Council’s Emerging From Fire exhibition explores the lasting impacts of the devastating bushfire which affected the communities of Tynong North, Garfield North, Bunyip North and Tonimbuk.
Residents, first responders and volunteers were encouraged to submit photos from the fires for the exhibition.
Cardinia Shire Council’s community recovery team leader Bronwyn Fleming said the exhibition was something the community wanted to see.
“The council really values this exhibition because it educates the broader community on the experience of the bushfires,” she said.
“It’s important to reflect on it because it’s an ongoing issue for many residents. It’s also a great reflection of the work that has been undertaken from the community and council and all our partners over the last three and a half years.
“We tried to make it reflective of not just the fire themselves, but the shifting on, and the rebuilding and the stages after onto the recovery.”
Bronwyn said recovery was a long process.
“It’s been three and a half years – I think a lot of people think that recovery happens within a year, that it’s a quick thing, but it’s not. Even though it’s been such a long time, it’s still timely now,” Bronwyn said.
“It doesn’t mean to say everyone is back and happy, but our part is coming to a close so it’s a great closing off.”
Roz and Lindsay McNaught, members of the Community Recovery Committee, consulted on the project.
“I do feel it’s meaningful,” Lindsay said.
“It’s very good seeing it all together and seeing the range of people’s experiences,” Roz added.
“It’s an opportunity to acknowledge and thank all the different people involved and meet up with people we haven’t really spoken to since then.”
Although finding it a little confronting, survivors Daniella Farrelly and daughter Nichole visited the exhibition on Monday 8 August to reflect on their experience.
“It does show how far we’ve come,” Daniella said.
“I think it’s about accepting it has happened. You do move on, but it is confronting too.”
The Farrellys lost 120 acres of bush, but their house was saved.
“We were one of the lucky ones,” Daniella said.
“It’s still very black and will be for years. But the green does hide a lot of the black.
“We have seen heaps of wildlife return, too.”
