Out at Clifton Creek, where the fires hit hard, the community is showing spirit, connectedness and a collective effort that is nothing short of inspiring.

The community has formed the Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team (CCRT), charged with “acting in the best interest of the whole community”.

It consists of a diverse representation of people in the community including farmers, nurses and blue-collar workers, professionals and environmentalists who are pulling together, working with the shire, DELWP and Bushfire Recovery Victoria to get their community back on track.

Committee member, Jen Smith, said the traditional model of a top-down committee with one leader at the top and everyone at the bottom “wasn’t a good fit”.

“We have an open door, ‘tap-in-tap-out’ policy, where we welcome new members for a long time or a short time,” Jen said.

“Our aim is to not only recover but also transform into a fire-ready and socially vibrant community.

“People are encouraged to contribute in line with their strengths, passions and interests across the whole recovery effort, for a project or just one task.

“If you can bring something to the table then bring it, we don’t want anyone to feel like they’re not on equal footing.”

Each of the existing community organisations are represented on the group including local CFA captain, Ian Brownrigg, who is also president of the Landcare group and involved with the recreation reserve committee.

He said a lot of people had stepped forward.

“If no one puts their hand up nothing will happen. It’s been great to see so many people put their hand up,” Ian said.

"The team has such good skills and is very capable of making things happen.”

A survey completed earlier in the year revealed the top six priorities for the Clifton Creek community with socialisation and community events at the head of the list.

Next was restoring, improving and constructing community infrastructure like playgrounds, the hall and the school; improving internet and mobile phone connectivity; improving and enhancing community and individual firefighting capacity; restoring and protecting the environment; and finally, fuel load reduction and future fire planning. 

 Clifton Creek takes in Clifton Creek, Deptford, Waterholes and parts of Granite Rock, made up of clusters of small communities.

It is estimated Deptford and Waterholes were 100 and 98 per cent burnt, while Clifton Creek received about 60 per cent damage, including the loss of the school, 13 houses and 17 other properties with substantial damage.

Focus is on getting shovel ready

The existing community organisations and CCCRT are currently working on getting the following projects shovel ready

* improving static water supplies for fire fighting; 

* workshops and training to increase the individual and collective capacity to be fire ready and defend during fire events; 

* revamping the much-loved tennis courts; 

* transforming the tired hall into a facility ready to meet the needs of the community in an emergency as well as facilitating day to day community activities;

* building a community playground; 

* biodiversity projects to help the natural environment recover; 

* a mountain bike track; 

* a community stage; 

* an outdoor barbecue and camp kitchen and 

* community gardens.

The team is now working on a community recovery action plan and over the next six weeks, group members will complete strategic planning and work on gaining funding, also identifying further community priorities so that when funding comes through the projects are ready to go. 

 For Clifton Creek Primary School principal, Sue Paul, the collaboration is positive. 

“We’re working as one big team and looking to the future,” Ms Paul said.

“Everyone has come together as a community as opposed to different entities moving in different directions.”

Working together with neighbours is providing valuable benefits for the locals.

“I am constantly energised and inspired when I see what individuals achieve when they volunteer to work together,” Jen said.

“As our team navigates all the usual processes and systems to drive a program of recovery for our community, and now COVID-19, it would be easy to give up.

“Society can easily often find more reasons not to do something than we can to do it.

“Our team is diverse, we have our different values, we aren’t perfect, we make mistakes and things fall through the gaps but we are hanging onto what we have in common and not letting go of the reasons for acting despite the challenges of 2020.

“The road to recovery for individuals and community was always going to be a long one but as we walk it together it’s a little easier.”

The team welcomes new members, ideas and feedback at any time.