Pinery fire recovery newsletter

Pinery fire recovery newsletter | Issue 23 | 17 January 2017 1

Issue 23 | 17 January 2017

In this issue InterPAR support program ...................... 1 Recovery Centre closed ......................... 1 Claim your free bike ................................ 1 Great start for community groups ........... 1 First Aid training ...................................... 2 Protect your critical documents ............... 2 Bendigo Bank donation ........................... 3 See every newsletter online .................... 3 Events ..................................................... 3 Supporting children after disaster ........... 4 Contact information ................................. 4

InterPAR support program The InterPAR program aims to help you recover from the impact of the fires.

Comprising five free, practical and skill-based individual sessions with a trained coach, the programme offers proven techniques to help improve your mood, strengthen your relationships and improve your quality of life.

The program will also help prepare you for future hardships by giving you the skills to handle tough times.

To register your interest, phone 0484 568 878, or email jason.blunt@unimelb.edu.au.

Recovery Centre closed The Pinery Fire Recovery Centre in Gawler was closed on 23 December 2016. However, support is still being provided by staff at the Northern Adelaide Plains Recovery Centre located at the Virginia Horticultural Centre – Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia. They are open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. The phone number will remain the same. Please phone 0477 744 258 or 0484 327 667 for continued support.

Claim your free bike Fancy a free bike this summer? There is still a great range of refurbished bikes available to people affected by the fire, thanks to a kind donation from the Belair Men’s Shed.

If you were affected by the fire and registered with the Recovery Centre, you are welcome to select bikes that suit you and your family.

The Town of Gawler Council is storing the refurbished bikes at their Depot in Paxton Street, Willaston. Phone (08) 8522 9254 to arrange a time to collect your bikes from the Works Depot.

Please be sure to bring along your Fire Impact Card to show you are eligible.

Great start for community groups Thanks to a generous donation from Foundation Barossa, it has been a great start to the year for a number of local groups that received funding recently.

The Greening the Landscape revegetation project received $5000 to continue their work, Wasleys Town Hall Committee received $15,000 to go towards new air-conditioning – a welcome additional for summer – and local craft group Creative Chatter received $5000 from Foundation Barossa, as well as a further $1000 from the Clare Quilters Group towards their facilities in the Town Hall.

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First Aid training Following last year’s successful workshops, Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation is sponsoring first aid training through St John Ambulance Australia.

Two courses are being offered. The first is Provide First Aid. This nationally-accredited course teaches treatment for resuscitation, fractures, bleeding, sprains/strains, burns, poisons, bites and stings, anaphylaxis and other conditions.

The second course is Mental Health First Aid, in which participants will learn about the signs and symptoms of mental health problems. They will also learn how to provide initial help, where and how to get professional help, and how to provide first aid in a crisis.

If you are interested in either of these courses, please email dcsi.pinerynews@sa.gov.au with your name, phone number and town by 6pm on Friday 27 January. We will then advise dates and locations of upcoming courses.

Protect your critical documents With the fire danger season here Complete Removals in Adelaide are generously providing a free pick up and storage service for an Emergency Box filled with critical documents.

The service is a response to many victims of the Pinery bushfires who couldn’t access medicines, government support and bank funds because they left behind documents such as licenses, passports and medical scripts when they vacated their homes. A lack of documentation also delayed replacement of identification and bank cards, insurance claims and utility reconnections.

At a pre-arranged time and location, Complete Removals will collect and log your Emergency Box and store it safely and securely at their facility in Somerton Park.

Empty boxes will be provided at the collection point on the day or can be obtained from any removalist company. In the event of a bushfire, your Emergency Box will be immediately available for pick up.

At the end of the season the boxes will be returned via the collection point.

Some suggested items include:

• Original or certified copies of birth certificates, licenses and other identification

• Medication scripts, list of medications taken, medical history, etc.

• Children’s blue health books and immunisation information

• Animal/vet paperwork

• Power/phone/internet provider account details

• Bank account details

• Insurance details

• Portable hard drives or memory sticks with copies of resumes, Will and tax information

• Qualifications, awards, trade licenses

• School enrolment info/school reports/awards

• House title/design; planning and zoning info - many people have had problems rebuilding homes and sheds as many council approvals were given prior to digitised records

• Vehicle registration details.

Complete Removals are currently asking residents who may wish to use this free service to contact them with your name and address. Once approximate numbers and locations are clear, you will be contacted with further information, including the chosen collection date and location.

For more information on Complete Removals, please visit www.completeremovals.com.au, or phone (08) 8358 0212.

Pinery fire recovery newsletter | Issue 23 | 17 January 2017 3

Bendigo Bank donation Last December, Bendigo Bank presented a cheque for $85,000 to the fire-affected community. The funds were a combination of $65,000 donated by the public and $20,000 from Bendigo Bank through their Community Enterprise Foundation.

The presentation took place in Freeling and Judy Gorey from Tarlee and Lorinda Bayley from Light Regional Council accepted the cheque on behalf of the region. Judy expressed her sincere thanks for the donation and highlighted some key points in the community’s recovery.

The funds will be used, in partnership with St John Ambulance, towards the following projects:

• Fire awareness signage on major arterial roads in the region

• Six defibrillator units for CFS groups in the region

• Two St John First Aid training sessions

• Six community barbecue

• events in the region and

• Two women’s resilience events.

We sincerely thank Bendigo Bank for their generous donation.

Staff from Bendigo Bank present the cheque to Lorinda Bayley (centre) and Judy Gorey (right).

See every newsletter online View every edition of the recovery newsletter online at www.dcsi.sa.gov.au (click on ‘Disaster recovery’ > ‘Pinery fire recovery newsletters’).

This page is regularly updated so you can read the latest newsletter anytime.

Events Australia Day 2017 breakfast and awards You are invited to attend Light Regional Council’s Australia Day breakfast and awards presentation. This year the breakfast will be, hosted by the Kapunda CWA and Kapunda Rotary Club.

The event will comprise a flag raising ceremony, citizenship ceremony, and presentation of the 2017 Australia Day Awards, followed by a free breakfast and entertainment by KaDenCe choir. When: 26 January, 7.45am for 8am start. Where: Kapunda Trotting Track - 41 Hancock Road, Kapunda. For more information phone Community Development Officer Lorinda Bayley on 0428 947 479.

Gungellan Hotel Australia Day BBQ The Gungellan Hotel in Freeling is hosting a free barbecue on Thursday 26 January.

Come along and enjoy Australia Day with fun activities for the whole family. When: Thursday 26 January, 12pm to 5pm Where: Gungellan Hotel - 2 Gray Street, Freeling. For more information phone Helen on (08) 8525 2009. Free grant writing workshops In this free workshop, learn how to identify organisational aims, objectives and strategic plans; how to research, consult and collect data; how to prepare a written grant/sponsorship application, and how to plan acquittal and evaluation processes. A light supper will be provided. When: Tuesday 21 February, 6.30pm - 9.30pm Where: Light Regional Council Chambers 93 Main Street, Kapunda Registrations are essential. To register, visit https://grantwritingworkshop_kapunda.eventbrite.com.au. For more information phone Donatella on (08) 8250 1582 or send an email to trainingmanager@nvsa.org.au.

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Supporting children after disaster Following the concern for traumatised children around the anniversary of the Pinery fire, a range of daytime and evening information sessions were held in Owen, Mallala, Freeling, Balaklava, and Roseworthy thoughout December.

The sessions were presented by Dr. Robyne Le Brocque, an expert in child and family mental health with extensive experience supporting children, schools and families affected by disasters and traumatic events.

She outlined some key points about the role of parents:

• Children look to parents to determine their own reactions

• Children need comfort, reassurance, and support

• Routine is importance • Monitor exposure to disaster talk • Look after yourself.

Dr Le Brocque also discussed the importance of setting clear limits and expectations for your child, helping them to build support systems and preparing children for situations that may trigger reactions.

We thank Dr Le Brocque for taking the time to share her expertise with the community.

Contact information

Recovery details Pinery Fire Recovery Centre services: 0477 744 258 or 0484 327 667 Virginia Horticultural Centre, Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia Pinery Fire Recovery website: www.sa.gov.au/recovery SA Recovery Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SArecoveryinfo Information and referral Women’s Information Service: (08) 8303 0590 www.wis.sa.gov.au Agriculture and livestock Livestock SA and Primary Producers SA: (08) 8297 2299

Local Councils Wakefield Regional Council: (08) 8862 0800 www.wakefieldrc.sa.gov.au Adelaide Plains Council: (08) 8527 0200 www.mallala.sa.gov.au Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council: (08) 8842 6400 www.claregilbertvalleys.sa.gov.au Light Regional Council: (08) 8525 3200 www.light.sa.gov.au

Counselling services Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 Youth Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 Lifeline: 13 11 14 Mens Line Australia: 1300 789 978 Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 National counselling helpline: 1800RESPECT or www.1800respect.org.au Country Health SA Clinical Counselling Service: Angaston (08) 8563 8544 or Gawler (08) 8521 2080 Northern Health Network: (08) 8209 0700

Business support Rural Business Support: 1800 836 211 www.ruralbusinesssupport.org.au

Natural Resources For assistance with property recovery, pest plant/animal control, revegetation, stock management and whole farm planning. Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges, Gawler Office: (08) 8523 7700 Natural Resources Northern and Yorke, Clare Office: (08) 8841 3400 www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au then click on ‘Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges’ > ‘Pinery fire recovery’.