Nearly 400 local residents - including Rural Fire Service volunteers and people impacted by last year's bushfires - came together on the Laguna Village Green last Friday for a special event hosted by Cessnock City Council.
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Community Recovery on the Green was a free, closed event that was organised to help these residents to reconnect and relax, and to thank the RFS volunteers following last summer's horror bushfire season - which started in late October and burned into early 2020.
Residents from North Rothbury, Millfield, Pokolbin, Wollombi, Laguna and Bucketty attended the event, where an outdoor cinema, jumping castle, live music and food stands were a hit and there were smiles all round.
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent, deputy mayor Darrin Gray and council's general manager Lotta Jackson joined the community at the event.
"It was a wonderful night to get together and relax. Importantly it was a way to say thanks and acknowledge local RFS volunteers and their families who did it extremely tough. As a community we wanted to express our gratitude," Cr Pynsent said.
Council's community recovery officer Melissa Boucher was pleased to be able to deliver an event that not only supported impacted residents but provided an economic boost to the community via the local businesses that were engaged in the event.
"I enjoyed connecting with residents and hearing their experiences. The feedback from the community about the event has been overwhelmingly positive and we're so pleased everyone enjoyed themselves," Ms Boucher said.
Simone Smith from Wollombi Valley Progress Association said it was such a generous gift to all residents.
"The event was well received by a wide and diverse local community, well deserving of a positive recovery event following the stresses of last year's bush fire season," Ms Smith said.
Community Recovery on the Green was funded by phase one of the joint NSW and Commonwealth Government Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Funds.
