Tanya McDermott has established a single priority to her head-spinning start as Rochester Flood Recovery co-ordinator – do whatever she can to help as many people as she can.
The job description for the flood recovery role is expansive, from helping people to access financial support and assisting with the potential relocation to the Emergency Recovery Victoria site at Elmore Events Centre, to acting as the ‘’right hand’’ of Rochester Community House co-ordinator Amanda Logie and ultimately assisting Rochester people back on their feet.
Ms McDermott, who started only a week ago, is no newcomer to the Rochester community, having held a communications role with the Rochester Elmore District Health Service and an administrative position with Campaspe Prevention and Population Health through the Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit.
The position is a 12-month contract, funded by the state government through the Neighbourhood Houses Victoria program, where Ms McDermott is employed by Rochester Community House and operates under the auspices of Amanda Logie.
"The aim is to allow Amanda to get back to her functions as Community House co-ordinator,“ Ms McDermott said.
The successful lobbying of the Community House team for more “on the ground’’ resources created the flood recovery co-ordinator role.
The Community House team is now at six, operating out of a portable building at the 4Rs complex (donated by Forestville Gold Mine) while they wait for a new building to be prepared.
“We walked through the Community House building today [last Friday]. If we are in there by June next year it will be a miracle,” Amanda Logie said.
She said the (Campaspe) shire had been wonderful in making the building repairs a priority, but she expected the 4Rs site to be home for some time to come.
Ms McDermott explained that anything related to community recovery fell under her umbrella.
“In the first week I have been dealing with the provision of mental health services, gaining an understanding of the insurance process and directing people to the relevant organisation for their inquiry,” she said.
“Social engagement will be a big part of what I do.”
The new co-ordinator will also be working to ensure Rochester’s children have access to activities during the school holidays.
“We plan to link in with other activities and help with the provision of buses to get to places,” she said.
Then there is the role she will play in looking after Rochester residents located at Elmore Events Centre.
"I expect to do regular work with the people there,“ she said. ”We are looking to have a presence there at least one day a week.“
Ms McDermott had six months in the REDHS role, alongside a 14-month role under the guidance of Emma Brentnall at the former Campaspe Primary Care Partnership.
“I live near Colbinabbin and I feel like I have a good grasp on the community,” she said.
She spent a week in the immediate aftermath of the flood event at the Presbyterian Church relief centre.
“I volunteered there for a week, which was a baptism of fire in terms of understanding what was happening,” she said.
“That was very good background knowledge to have in this position.”
Ms McDermott, along with the responsible authorities, will also help to manage and administer the Rochester Recovery Fund, which currently stands at about $180,000.
There will be a very considered process for distribution and residents will be able to apply for financial support.
The fund is already larger than the 2011 amount, which reached $150,000.
“Every day there are people contacting us with offers of support, but cash provides flexibility, so we hope people understand when it is difficult to take products,” Ms McDermott said.
“People have nowhere to put them at the moment.”
A survey that was recently distributed in the Rochester community is providing the Community House team with an indication of the immediate and longer term needs of people.
"At the moment we are dealing with the more urgent issues,” Ms McDermott said.
“My aim is to be able to provide immediate help to those people who walk through the doors, so they get immediate answers.”
Ms McDermott can be contacted on 0407 413 156.