Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Connecting Communities Award was awarded to the Riddells Creek 72-Hour Emergency Team for its significant contribution to community life.
The council presented its community award winners at event in Kyneton on Thursday night, where Tony Davis, of Kyneton, was awarded Citizen of the Year; Woodend Landcare took out the Healthy People and Environment Award; and Interval Art, of New Gisborne, received the Business and Tourism Award.
Established in 2023, the team was formed out of Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House ‘Resilient Riddell’ and ‘What Riddell Wants’ community initiatives and includes 15 volunteer community leaders.
The team has worked closely with council and other emergency agencies to understand how emergency management works and to research assets and vulnerabilities that affect Riddells Creek’s resilience to disaster.
Neighbourhood House community development manager Lisa Linton said it was amazing to see people come together to help members of their community.
“This group of 15 leaders, they come from different organisations like our Lions, CFA, some of our churches, social media representatives of our local community groups, but also interested individuals who are just pretty keen to get involved,” she said.
“The reason why it’s good to have so many is because if a disaster comes onto a town, there may be an evacuation order and peoples’ first priorities are their families and all that kind of stuff, so as long as there’s a couple of the group that are able to activate our 72-hour plan then that’s what we’re looking for.”
Through working collaboratively with businesses and organisations in the area, the group has developed strategies addressing gaps in the first 72 hours after an emergency where the community could be without support from external agencies for up to 72 hours.
Strategies include identifying and setting up community convergence spaces, looking after vulnerable people, and working closely with emergency agencies like the CFA to bolster disaster knowledge in the community.
“In small communities, everyone tends to step up in an emergency, but the 72-hour team is a coordinated approach,” Ms Linton said.
“It’s still getting traction in the community, but what we have found is when we’ve put the call out to meet with local businesses, a lot of them come. As soon as people understand what we’re trying to do, they get alongside it.”
Ms Linton said winning the award would be a step towards getting the exposure the group needed to further assist the community.
“They know we understand how to work with emergency agencies and that we trust them,” she said.
“Getting an award like this is going to build their recognition and trust in the community, but also with the emergency services.”
