Mayor’s Message

By Cr Clare Le Serve

I hope are you are recovering after last week’s terrifying storm, although I know many of you are still doing it very tough.

The Bureau of Meteorology said it was going to be wild, but no warning could have properly prepared us for when the skies suddenly went dark on Tuesday, and the wind and hail smashed into our beautiful region.

In its wake was a trail of shredded trees and debris, and for the most unlucky they had broken roofs to fix and smashed memories to gather up.

At the time of writing this many homes and businesses were still without power and phone coverage and we have been working hard, along with Bass Coast Health, the Red Cross and many emergency services to provide as much support possible.

We were all touched in some way by the lost power and mobile phone coverage. It’s amazing how reliant we’ve become on modern technology and it certainly makes it challenging to communicate vital messages. Council adapted by using whatever communication tools were available, including posters, door knocking and word of mouth.

What I would particularly like to draw attention to today is the inspiring way our community came together to recover from everything Mother Nature threw at us.

Our first responders were magnificent as they always are, clearing paths with their hands and chainsaws, checking on the more vulnerable members of community and bringing an immediate sense of calm in a sea of chaos.

Power workers were quickly on scene to make lines safe and then get them connected as fast as they could.

I saw neighbours pitching in to help one another and businesses finding ingenious ways to stay open to keep serving their community. There were teenagers on the streets, freed up by the closure of school and the sudden silence of their much-loved mobile devices and now lending a hand with brooms and wheelbarrows.

Neighbours took it in turns to look after each other’s young children so critical work could be completed safely and quickly. Others made sure to visit vulnerable members of our community and to offer help.

Council staff worked through the night and through the next days across the region to get essential services working again and providing portable power. Wonthaggi Hospital and its emergency generator became a base of operations for council executives.

Make no doubt this was a terrible weather event and many people will continue to need all our help to fully bounce back from the devastation – and we will give them our help until they no longer need it.

But long after the sound of the approaching storm recedes in my thoughts, the enduring memories I shall have will be how a resilient community came together and helped each other get through it together.

Thank you Bass Coast. You did us proud.