HEYFIELD SENIOR SUPPORT PROJECT: COMMUNITY CONNECTION IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC
A fantastic project has emerged in Heyfield that has been supporting senior residents over the past two years. Heyfield Senior Support Project staff are now busy planning social gatherings and Christmas hampers to round out the year’s activities and looking forward to their second Christmas celebration in a row.
MALLACOOTA RESIDENTS STEP OUT OF SOCIAL ISOLATION FOR SOME FOOD VAN FUN
A Food Van Feast has done much to lift the spirits of people in the Mallacoota area after two isolating events over the last year-and-a-half, bushfires and the pandemic. People in the area have a spring in their step after hundreds of them came out earlier this month for some much-needed social interaction...
SUPPORTING GIPPSLAND LOCALS TO RECHARGE WITH PAUL KELLY
SUPPORTING GIPPSLAND LOCALS TO RECHARGE WITH PAUL KELLY The Andrews Labor Government is supporting East Gippsland locals impacted by recent bushfires, drought and the pandemic to take a break and enjoy concerts with Paul Kelly - one of Australia’s most celebrated musicians. The ARIA Hall of Fame singer and songwriter will perform two shows in the region in August as part of the Labor Government’s Recharge program...
BRUTHEN LIGHTS UP FOR A BRIGHT WINTER
An absence of events in the Bruthen area due to bushfires and the Covid pandemic meant that the running of two fun winter events really brought the community together in an uplifting way. The Winter Solstice Bonfire and the Winter Fringe Cafe were a hit with locals and visitors alike. With support in part from Connect Well East Gippsland and Wellington, the events were organised by the Bruthen Arts and Events Council...
TWO EVENTS GIVE ORBOST PEOPLE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT
Having come through drought, bushfires and isolating restrictions brought about by the Covid pandemic, the people of East Gippsland needed a positive distraction that would allow them to reconnect with each other. 8 March 2021 saw the combined events of the Orbost Agricultural Show, this time for the 113th year, and the Orbost Sustainability Expo. The two events had run side-by-side several times since 2012, adding to the attraction...
THE CREATIVE WORK OF SARSFIELD'S HAPPY YOUNG SNAPPERS EXPANDS TO A WIDER AUDIENCE
It is one thing to have your lovely photographs mounted and displayed on a fence around a local bushfire recovery hub. For a budding pre-teen photographer, that would make you rather happy. But when your work goes on display in the main town of the region for all to see, that is quite exciting! ‘Sarsfield Snaps’ began as a project in the Sarsfield and Clifton Creek area with bushfire recovery funding...
‘SARSFIELD SNAPS' PHOTOGRAPHERS PREPARE FOR BAIRNSDALE EXHIBITION
The local community will soon be able to visit an exhibition of uplifting photographic art produced by young participants in the Sarsfield Snaps project. Children and youth from the bushfire-affected communities of Sarsfield, Clifton Creek and surrounds have, over the months, expressed their positive and reflective thoughts through photography. Their efforts have produced a two-year calendar and a display of large-format prints along School Road in Sarsfield. The next milestone is a ten-day exhibition in Bairnsdale. It will be a featured event of the East Gippsland Winter Festival. Fifty-four mounted photos will be on display in the Brabuwooloong Gallery, Forge Theatre and Arts Hub, starting on June 22.
CONNECT WELL PROJECTS CAPTURE INTEREST OF PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY
Projects funded by Connect Well East Gippsland + Wellington were in the spotlight during a recent visit by Steve Dimopolous, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health. Mr Dimopolous visited the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve and was shown nesting boxes made by a local Cub Pack. This project, funded by Connect Well, sought to make a small change to local animal habitat and empower local children to make a positive change within a bushfire affected community...
SCOUTS NESTING BOXES
As a result of the catastrophic 2019 /2020 Black Summer bushfires a significant amount of natural habitat has been destroyed. Local families have seen first-hand the loss of diversity of animals and birds in the local area. This project looked to make a small local change to animal habitat and empower local children aged 7 to 10 years old, to make a positive change within a bushfire affected community...
THE RED HOT BUSH DANCE AND COMMUNITY BBQ
Connect Well funded The Red Hot Bush Dance and Community BBQ in Wairewa, on New Year’s Day 2021. Due to COVID regulations the event was held outdoors in order to accommodate the possible 100 people who were expected to participate; as it happened, 102 actually signed in! Holding the event outdoors involved obtaining extra funding for a marquee and dance floor via the East Gippsland Shire (Commonwealth and State sources)...
BUSHFIRE TV DOCO SERIES WRAPS UP
Around 60 people have joined together for a celebration of stories, courage, hope and survival to mark the culmination of the Beyond the Fire television documentary series that is airing in Gippsland and nationwide on Network Ten and WIN. Beyond the Fire follows the stories of East Gippsland’s unsung heroes as they band together to create life from the ashes after the Australian ‘Black Summer’ bushfire crisis. Created, directed and produced by Cheeky Mac Productions, the Beyond the Fire wrap party and screening of two of the episodes was held at Albert & Co in Lakes Entrance last week, supported by CFA District 11.
YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS PRODUCE CALENDAR IN BUSHFIRE RECIVERY PROJECT
The youth photography project Sarsfield Snaps reached another milestone recently, with the distribution of a twenty-four-month calendar featuring photos taken by the young project participants. Images of favourite pets, farm animals, resurgent vegetation, and local landscapes were chosen by the young photographers from their many hundreds of photos and were curated by one of the participants herself.
SARSFIELD YOUTH EXPAND THEIR UNIQUE OUTDOOR EXHIBITION
Young people in Sarsfield have expanded their unique outdoor photographic exhibition. Gippsland Goodness told you in August how the best photos out of hundreds taken by school students from Sarsfield went on display at the hub of the region’s bushfire recovery efforts. Through the Sarsfield Snaps project, the local kids are able to celebrate life and nature in their recovering community.
SARSFIELD YOUTH WITH AN EYE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
The best photos out of hundreds taken by school students from Sarsfield have gone on display at the hub of the region’s bushfire recovery efforts. Through the Sarsfield Snaps project, the local kids are able to celebrate life and nature in their recovering community. The summer bushfires were devastating and their impact will be felt for years. But to occupy themselves with a project like this allows them to express their feelings and to appreciate what’s good about their locality. It’s a celebration of life and nature in their recovering community.
