The Towong Shire Council will hold a community celebration to recognise the vital role it has played in the recovery from the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
After three and a half years, the funding to support the hub’s operations will cease in June and the facility will close.
“The hub, located at the former junior school campus in Corryong, has played a significant role in response to the recovery and the building of community resilience after the bushfires,” said Towong mayor, Cr Andrew Whitehead.
“It housed many key government and community agencies in the immediate aftermath of the fire event coordinating responses, service needs, and place for community members to gather and be supported.
“Since the initial response period, the hub has been the place where ongoing specific services have been provided such as counselling, financial advice, employment, business development and community meetings.
“A range of community programs, projects, workshops and events have been coordinated from the hub in that time.”
“The work of the recovery team and the eleven Community Recovery Committees in the district, demonstrates that the community resilience is strong and various community organisations and community leaders have ensured that the Upper Murray communities are well connected and resourced to support each other,” Cr Whitehead said..
“As we move towards its closure at the end of the month I’m looking forward to coming together to celebrate the strengths and the achievements of the community,”
“However, before then I wanted to take the opportunity to remind our community that the closure of the building does not mean the end of recovery actions. All ongoing recovery actions will be managed by council’s Emergency Management unit as part of its normal business operations.
“To celebrate the resilience and strength of the Upper Murray community, we will be holding a special Celebration of Recovery Community event for the stakeholders associated with the recovery effort to come together to mark their achievements.
The celebration will be held on the afternoon of Sunday 28 July at the Corryong Event Centre (more details will be released closer to the date).
Cr Whitehead added that the future of the recovery hub building is being considered by council in conjunction with the Department of Education.
“There are a number of options being assessed with all having a focus on community access and services,” he said.
“As these plans continue to develop we will be in a position to provide more details but until then I encourage you to save the date for the community celebration!”
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 20 June 2024.