'Resilience plan writes itself' as needs arise

The Community Resilience Plan for the Bouddi Peninsula area is virtually writing itself as the community has recently faced bushfires, storms, floods, extended power outages and now the coronavirus pandemic health crisis, according to Wagstaffe-Killcare Community Association president Mr Mike Allsop.

He said the plan would be an action plan to guide the community on what to do, how to support each other and where to get help in an emergency.

The plan is being established by community leaders from the association, the Rural Fire Service, the surf lifesaving club and the Killy Cares local charity.

"We're close to getting the structured plan together but we can't wait for that obviously.

"We've just to get on with it and provide the services as they are needed," Mr Allsop said.

Killy Cares was stepping up to the mark, offering help through the social isolation stages of the coronavirus health crisis, according its president Mr Stephen Hinks.

Pastor at Hardys Bay Community Church, Mr Hinks, and local businesswoman, Ms Cathy Baker, started Killy Cares about five years ago.

"The idea was to pick up on anybody who might be falling through the cracks and basically we are here to look out for and look after each other," Mr Hinks said.

"We've got about 50 member volunteers who will drive the elderly or anyone vulnerable to medical appointments, do the shopping or gardening and various other things.

"We have a co-ordinator organising to provide meals for people, which are made by people at Hardys Bay Community Church.

"Our group has provided St John training in first aid, CPR and use of defibrillators and last year we managed to buy three for use in the community."

Mr Hinks said the focus now was on assisting the community through the coronavirus health situation.

"Killy Cares is here to help, especially elderly and vulnerable members of our community," he said.

"We've already put together some groceries and delivered about 20 boxes of those.

"We've got emergency meals for people and I've been talking to our local businesses about what they'll be offering with takeaway meals or delivery service.

"We're asking for more volunteers. We have about 50 member volunteers but we need more to be able to provide these important services at this time.

"It's great to see the younger people, especially the young ones from the surf club, offering their help.

"Also, we are trying to compile a list of people in the community, with their permission, who are in that vulnerable age group, who don't have family nearby, or live alone - the kind of people we can help with anything at all.

"The list will become part of the Community Resilience Plan so we know who to watch out for in these types of emergencies.

"The majority of people in this area are retirees and the elderly who require this type of assistance, which is our main target group, however, we do help families as well."

Mr Hinks said the Community Resilience Plan was all about adaptive leadership and the plan was being established by community organisations such as the Rural Fire Service, the surf club, Killy Cares and the Killcare-Wagstaffe Community Association.

"As a community we have to adapt to situations and rise to whatever is thrown at us," he said.

SOURCE:

Interviews (Sue Murray), 24 Mar 2020

Stephen Hinks, Killy Cares

Mike Allsop, WTKCA