Mrs Reid said the term Rochy South at Elmore Events Centre was designed to ensure the displaced flood victims that now call the site “home” can remain connected to the Rochester township.
As of last week there were almost 100 people living at the Elmore Evente Centre site, which is home to the Elmore field days, but by the end of the construction at the site there are expected to be 400 residents.
The Rochy South at Elmore Events Centre reference on social media has been purposefully designed to ensure those people forced to move out of their home town take a piece of Rochester with them to the Emergency Recovery Victoria site.
Mrs Reid, among the leading figures in the recovery effort — alongside Amanda Logie and Cate Ward — said the social and emotional stress that had been put on the Rochester community meant her group was using any means at its disposal to ease the stress.
“These are vulnerable people who have suffered, and continue to live, in a traumatic environment,” Mrs Reid said.
“We feel it is important they maintain a social and emotional connection to Rochester.
“The term Rochy South simply allows them to take a little bit of home with them.
“In no way is the name intended to offend anyone. It is simply a way of these people who have bee forced out of their homes to retain a connection with their town.”
Mrs Reid said she considered the ERV site at the Elmore events centre on Rosaia Rd to be an extension of the Rochester community — hence the decision of the community house organisation to continuing using the term Rochy South (at Elmore Events Centre).
She said she was aware of some talk that the name had caused discontent in certain sectors, but felt it was not a major issue when taken into context against what those now living at the field days location had been through.
“We acknowledge just how wonderful the support of communities surrounding Rochester has been,” she said.
“This is just a little bit of Rochester that people can take with them in a time of great trauma.”
