An appreciation lunch was held at the Katamatite sports pavilion on Sunday, February 1 for all the emergency services personnel who helped the town during the Yarroweyah fire.
Photo by
Abby Green
The Yarroweyah fire on January 9 tore through homes and properties, leaving devastation in its wake.
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As the long road to recovery begins, the community has banded together to say ‘thank you’ to the emergency services personnel involved in fighting the blaze.
Cobram local Ian Fox organised a community lunch at the Katamatite sports pavilion on Sunday, February 1 to show the community’s appreciation of these everyday heroes.
Mr Fox said he invited the police, SES, CFA, Powercor and other service people and volunteers who helped during the fires.
He said Powercor was “unbelievable” in its work to get the power restored.
“I saw one crew on day six still working at four o’clock in the morning, and I thought those guys need some appreciation too.
“Today’s about thank God we're alive, and thank the people who helped do that.”
Mr Fox said many community groups and businesses pitched in to help with the lunch, including the Katamatite Lions and Cobram Rotary Club.
All the food was sourced from local Cobram businesses, with salads generously donated by Manto’s Produce, bread provided at a reduced cost by Bakers Delight and meat supplied by Doyle’s Gourmet Meats.
Cobram SES unit controller Luke Herezo was at the lunch and said it really highlighted the work of emergency services personnel.
“It’s a fantastic thing for the community to come together and really show their appreciation for what their local emergency services did a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
Cobram CFA life member Adrian Hilder was also at the lunch and was grateful for the community’s support.
“I thought to myself, ‘That's quite amazing that people are going, let’s look after the emergency services,’ he said.
“It just makes you feel appreciated.”
The Muckatah CFA fought alongside the other brigades during the Yarroweyah fire, despite having a replacement truck.
Muckatah CFA volunteers Robert McPherson, Glen Hamson and Jo and Anthony Setter with the current replacement truck.
Photo by
Abby Green
The Muckatah CFA brigade volunteers said they wanted the community to know that although they were currently in a replacement truck, they were still out and about and here to help.
Leading Senior Constable Charles Ryall said the lunch was a great way for the local community and emergency services to come together.
“It's really good to meet everyone in person, decompress and work out who needs support moving forward,” he said.
“Thank you to Ian Fox for organising the event and to everyone who attended.”
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