A good recovery is founded on good communication and community engagement.
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That’s the key message from Euan Ferguson, the man tasked with coordinating the district’s recovery in the wake of the Tathra/Reedy Swamp bushfire.
Ahead of a public meeting on Wednesday night to update the community on the recovery, Mr Ferguson sat down with Fairfax Media to reiterate the strength and resilience of the Tathra community, and indeed the wider Bega Valley Shire, was proving an incredible boon to the process.
“It’s important to recognise that where we are at the moment is largely due to the community and community leaders,” Mr Ferguson said.
“People are stepping up and helping each other. I can’t emphasise enough that I want to empower and engage existing community groups and leaders – this is not about me.
“If we’re doing our job properly, we’ll be able to point people to existing local organisations.”
The creation of a community reference group last week was a great forward step he said, with daily check-ins from committee chairmen Scott Meaker and Pat Campbell.
Mr Ferguson said he will remain in town “for as long as the need for someone like me is apparent”, but previous experience showed a community’s ongoing recovery following bushfires becomes “almost self-managing”.
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Mr Ferguson said 184 households have now registered at the Recovery Centre, more than the number of homes directly impacted and “a good sign people are aware of the services available to them”.
Meanwhile, outreach services provided by Red Cross, Disaster Welfare and Anglicare report they have visited every single home in Tathra, making contact with 495 people to check on their welfare.
Mr Ferguson said heading into the Easter break it was essential people continue to look after each other, check on their neighbours, make contact via sport clubs or faith groups and tell stories.
“There are four priorities right now. Number one is making sure immediate welfare needs are satisfied,” he said.
“Then we need to make sure small business and tourism is up and running, the clean-up process begins, and finally the health and wellbeing of people – particularly mental health – is being looked after.”
The Recovery Centre hosts a wide range of services available free to residents impacted in any way by the bushfire event. While it will close for the Easter public holidays, it is open on Saturday from 10am until 4pm, and reopening on Tuesday at 10am.
The Recovery Centre Hotline (02) 6499 2475 will be operating every day throughout the weekend.
For any urgent concerns, call Lifeline on 13 1114, or the Mental Health 24/7 hotline on 1800 011 511.