Margaret Crisp spoke to the club on Bushfire Recovery following the devasting bushfires in Upper Murray in 2019/20.
Rotary and Lions proved to be flexible in getting into areas, with over 100 hay trucks, in a convoy, providing feed.
After feed, the next problem was fencing to contain the livestock. Team spent 4 1/2 weeks in area before Blaze Aid and Uniting Church fencers arrived.
Teams spent 18 months in Cudgewa recreational reserve where in the area, 308,242 hectares were burnt, 55 residences destroyed, over 200 buildings destroyed and over 18,000 head of cattle lost.
Over 10,000 volunteer hours spent fencing, book packs provided for school students, Albury Wodonga Health case management supported families in crisis. Bushfire Recovery Victoria, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Uniting Church are some of the organisations helping people move on.
It became apparent that Rotary needs a dedicated Recovery Committee, learning from impact of past disasters.