Valley Sport brought together eight local clubs and community organisations on Monday, October 13 for its hands-on Community Resilience Workshop.
Thanks to funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, the event provided essential tools, knowledge and strategies to help local groups plan, respond to and recover from natural disasters and emergencies.
The workshop attracted a diverse range of organisations, including local tennis, cricket and equestrian clubs, the Lions Club, the Agricultural Society and the Historical Society.
“These clubs are the backbone of their communities,” Valley Sport project officer Nate Dedman said.
“Their willingness to come together, learn, and collaborate shows their deep commitment to keeping their communities safe, connected and resilient.”
Participants were guided through a series of practical sessions, focusing on creating disaster and emergency sub-committees, conducting risk assessments and asset registers, understanding early warning systems, identifying vulnerabilities and establishing trigger points, sharing volunteer responsibilities, and navigating post-disaster recovery and operational continuity.
Each group received a customisable Disaster Recovery Toolkit, designed as a living document to evolve with the needs of each club.
A particularly powerful part of the evening was the sharing of experiences from the 2022 floods, which sparked thoughtful discussion, empathy and the forging of stronger ties between organisations.
These connections may prove vital in future emergency situations.
“The workshop gave us more than just information — it gave us confidence and community,” a local participant said.
Valley Sport plans to continue working closely with the clubs in the months ahead as they implement the strategies and tools introduced during the workshop.
“This is just the beginning,” Mr Dedman said.
“We’re excited to support these groups as they strengthen their resilience and continue to serve as trusted, prepared hubs in their communities.”
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