Floods October 2022
The shire was affected by flooding in October 2022. Key support is still available for the community. For enquiries and support call the Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760
You can also find post-flood information from the state government Department of Health here.
Moorabool Community Resilience Project
The Moorabool Community Resilience Project aims to strengthen the capacity and capability of communities impacted by the October 2022 flood event by supporting them to plan for and lead their own recovery and build resilience.
Working with established community groups, organisations, and the impacted communities of Myrniong, Gordon/Mount Egerton, and Morrisons/Lal Lal/Elaine and their surrounding areas we aim to work with each community to identify projects, initiatives and activities to help build their recovery and resilience for past, present and future emergency events.
The Moorabool Community Resilience Project is made possible through funding by Emergency Recovery Victoria and Moorabool Shire Council.
Background
A major flooding event hit Moorabool Shire during October 2022, significantly impacting the communities of Myrniong, Gordon/Mount Egerton, and Morrisons/Lal Lal/Elaine and their surrounding areas.
Project Update
Conversations, surveys and meetings with local community members, highlighted some initiatives that could help build their resilience and improve community connections in an emergency.
Some of the initiative delivered as part of the Moorabool Community Resilience Project have included:
Pillowcase Project
An educational program designed to better prepare local primary school students for natural disasters was also held late last year.
Over 50 students aged 8 to 10 years old from Lal Lal, Myrniong, Gordon and Mt Egerton Primary Schools attended two Australian Red Cross Pillowcase Project sessions to decorate a pillowcase to take home as the bag for their own emergency kit.
Students learnt what to pack and how to prepare themselves if they were ever evacuated from their home due to a natural emergency event.
For more information regarding the Pillowcase Project, please visit the Australian Red Cross website via www.redcross.org.au
CPR & Defibrillator Training
Community members from Elaine and Lal Lal recently participated in two accredited CPR & Defibrillator Training sessions held by St John Ambulance Victoria.
The training provided the opportunity to not only learn and practice valuable lifesaving skills but also enabled them to come together as a community and foster social connections leading to improved resilience.
For more information regarding the training provided by St John Ambulance Victoria, please visit their website via www.stjohnvic.com.au
Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance for Women Workshop
A group of women from Lal Lal and surrounding towns came together last month to be led by Ceilidh Meo of Zap Studio in how to use and maintain chainsaws.
The workshop provided the opportunity for participants to become more familiar and comfortable when using both electric and petrol chainsaws. It also taught them the skills to be more prepared and ready for an emergency event as well as giving them the confidence to be more independent and resilient.
More workshops in Chainsaw Safety and Maintenance are planned for May 2025.
For more information: The Moorabool Community Resilience Project: Free Chainsaw Workshops
Project timeline
Moorabool Community Resilience Project FAQ's
Why is the project only for certain areas?
The Moorabool Community Resilience Project is part funded by Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV) in response to the October 2022 floods.
ERV has allocated funds to the communities most impacted by these floods (Myrniong, Gordon/Mount Egerton, and Morrisons/Lal Lal/Elaine and their surrounding areas to assist with their recovery as well as build their resilience for future emergencies
What does 'resilience' mean?
Resilience refers to the ability to recover from, or adapt to, unplanned change. To build resilience often means to develop plans and skills to be better prepared and ready for change.
Are there any examples of resilience projects from other areas?
There are many different approaches to community resilience projects within Australia and overseas. Most involve the creation of a community emergency management plan or a community resilience plan but some also involve training and events. Sometimes just a fridge magnet or a postcard to encourage the community to better understand their emergency risks and how to plan and prepare for them.
See below links to examples of community resilience projects and activities:
For more information on these and other initiatives in development as part of the Moorabool Community Resilience Project please contact the Emergency Management Team on 5366 7100.
Opportunities to participate in future events will be promoted through community newsletters, posters and social media.