The Wollombi Valley Community Firewise Program – conducted by the NSW Rural Fire Service brigades of Wollombi, Laguna, Bucketty and Millfield (Group 8, Lower Hunter Zone) – won a highly commended award in the volunteer/community group category at the national awards in Canberra earlier this month after taking out the state award in October.

The program has been developed over the past eight years, providing the community with protection from fire, as well as delivering education regarding how to prepare for bushfire, what steps to take in the event of bushfire, and most importantly how to survive.

Initiatives have included community bushfire safety forums and presentations, bushfire survival planning workshops, property inspections plus the provision of bushfire safety information to the community via a wide range of traditional and electronic channels, including local media, community websites and Facebook, information kiosks, and open days.

“The team is very proud to have received this special award, but stress that our single goal is to ensure the wonderful community of Wollombi Valley is a firewise community,” Wollombi Rural Fire Brigade deputy captain Glenn O’Rourke said.

“We consider the winning of the award as a great way to raise people’s awareness regarding the risk of bushfire and the importance for those living in or near the bush to have a bushfire survival plan.”

The awards are an Australian Government initiative delivered in partnership with states and territories and received 108 entries this year – a record number.

Formerly known as the Australian Safer Communities Awards, the Resilient Australia Awards were renamed to reflect the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience.

Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon congratulated the brigades on receiving the award.

“While natural disasters can be unpredictable, we can all be better prepared, and that’s what this project is all about,” Mr. Fitzgibbon said.