Politics & Council
7 February, 2024
Face of adversity has a silver lining
By ANNE WEBSTER IT IS always uplifting to see a community come together in the face of adversity. My heart goes out to all affected by the floods that struck just prior to Christmas. What should have been a time to relax with the family was...
By ANNE WEBSTER
IT IS always uplifting to see a community come together in the face of adversity.
My heart goes out to all affected by the floods that struck just prior to Christmas. What should have been a time to relax with the family was interrupted by heavy rains, and the fallout for some has been heartbreaking.
Wedderburn was badly hit but this motivated emphatic support to revive the town’s State Emergency Service Unit.
As the Loddon Herald reported last month – “Many later spoke with SES staff and volunteers about signing up for membership and training that could see the unit regain operational status within six months.”.
A wonderful silver lining.
Times of crisis such as the floods are often a true indicator of the level of community spirit and the “can do” attitude small towns have.
I congratulate the Wedderburn community for rallying and looking at what they can do when disasters like this occur.
And a big thankyou to other SES units and community groups around other towns who have stood
up to help on their own patches.
This is what makes Mallee great – from North to South, East to West, Mallee communities roll up their sleeves, pull together and get to work when times get tough.
I have always been passionate about volunteering, and I encourage anyone reading this column to think how you can serve your community volunteering whatever your capabilities.
You don’t have to be in an operational role dealing with disasters such as these floods, most communities have a variety of volunteer organisations performing a range of roles that can be suitable for anyone.
It can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life, and you are making a real difference to
your town and the people in it.
With devastating floods hitting the district for two years in a row now, I take this opportunity to remind people there are relief options available for those whose property and livelihoods have been impacted.
You don’t have to go it alone and I encourage you to investigate the relief you are eligible to access.
The joint Australian, State and Territory governments’ Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) provide a range of financial assistance to the natural disaster-declared areas in each state or territory.
I know these cost sharing arrangements between the Commonwealth and the Victorian Government were of great help to Councils and communities around Mallee during the riverine floods that hit Mallee from October 2022.
Individuals affected by the flooding are encouraged to contact their local council as the Loddon Shire has been listed as eligible for support. Or visit the VicEmergency website for more details.
If you were also impacted by the October 2022 Victorian floods, you can continue to access recovery help through your recovery support worker.
Looking forward to the rest of the year, it is critical the voices of the people of Mallee are heard in Canberra.
It has been a pleasure to serve you as your Federal Member since 2019, and I look forward to continuing to represent you in 2024.
As The Nationals finalise policies to take to the next election, as always, I welcome your thoughts and insights.
My staff and I are also here to help on a range of issues ranging from immigration and Centrelink to congratulatory messages from the King for major milestones.
* Anne Webster is the member for Mallee