Wednesday, 8 January, 2020
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The Year That Was...
PAGES 4-11 and SPORT
A look back at what made news in 2019
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Back row: Cardinia Shire Council mayor Jeff Springfield, former mayor Graeme Moore, Sergeant Danny Hower, council's Bronwyn Fleming and Crystal McDonald, St Vincent De Paul treasurer Chris Russo and Lions Club volunteer Shirley Higman. Front row, from left: BlazeAid's John Anderson, Bunyip CFA Captain John Cooper, Community Recovery Committee chair Tony Fitzgerald and Tonimbuk Picture: ROB CAREW Hall's Alan Blackwell. 201901
Power of people Community organisations played a crucial role in the response and recovery efforts of the Bunyip bushfires. From the beginning, throughout 2019 and into the new year, those contributions have proved vital to victims, who are still “hurting” almost a year on. Impossible to name just one person, the 2019 Gazette Person of the Year title instead went to deserving groups who banded together for the sole purpose of providing relief.
Tonimbuk Hall, remarkably, survived the fires which swept through Bunyip State Park and destroyed 29 houses and 67 sheds, leaving hundreds displaced and distraught. That very hall has provided a second home to bushfire affected victims as well as a base for volunteers and other organisations. Alan Blackwell, who helped set up the recovery centre, has spent a lot of time reflecting on his role in the recovery. He was approached due to his experience running similar efforts in the aftermath of Black Saturday and
2019 PEOPLE OF THE YEAR Ash Wednesday. “I didn’t do as much as I would’ve liked to, because of my age. I was ap-
proached by some volunteer groups that worked with us at Labertouche. Straight away, we got into it,“ Mr Blackwell recalls. “Having been through it a few times before, I had a good idea what needed doing. “It was pretty hectic. We didn’t have enough people to run it, so I’m glad that the council were available to step in. I just did what I thought needed doing.” Cardinia Shire Council’s former mayor Graeme Moore and colleagues were instrumental in their response to the disaster.
“It was a shock for everyone we were all caught by surprise,” Cr Moore said. “I did my best to keep the community together but there were probably things that I would change today but there isn’t much because there wasn’t any time to stop and think. “You had to do what you could at the time and sometimes those things are knee jerk reactions to situations.” Bunyip Fire Brigade captain John Cooper led 28 strike teams as the fire tore through 16,000 hectares of the Bunyip State Park. Continued page 4
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