Council to Provide Emergency Preparedness Kits in Schools

Published on 28 March 2024

Southern Grampians Shire is no stranger to major events such as flood and fire and as we have seen time and time again, preparation is the key to improving the chances of making it through unscathed and bouncing back quickly.

Funding has been made available through the ‘Moments that Matter’ scheme for communities which find themselves in the highest risk of bushfire.

Balmoral, Branxholme, Cavendish, Coleraine, Dunkeld, Penshurst and their primary schools have been specifically highlighted by this plan.

Over 230 primary school families from these towns will be provided with starter bushfire kits and valuable education provided by CFA and SGSC.

These kits contain a thick woollen fire blanket along with a crank and solar powered torch/ radio. These are essential items for any household, and it is hoped that these will form the foundation for an expanding emergency preparedness kit in these homes.

The intention behind providing these items to school children is to create conversations with students and their loved ones around what their personal kit should contain and what each household will need and do in an emergency.

We encourage all households to consider and discuss their bushfire plans and to download the Vic Emergency App.

The moments that matter scheme is one of many programs being worked on by the Southern Grampians Shire Council that exist to improve relief, response and recovery capabilities, strengthen our fire prevention strategies and more.

The scheme was hailed as an encouraging and necessary step forward for the Shire by Rory Neeson, Director of Wellbeing, Planning and Regulation at the Southern Grampians Shire Council.

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in this initiative,” he said.

“Starting the conversation at home and providing the building blocks for a comprehensive kit gives people in the community a great start towards resiliency and preparedness. Our community has seen all of this before, and we’ve always stood together in tough times. This is a terrific opportunity to spread our hard-earned knowledge and make sure the next generation is in the best position possible.”

If families would like to discuss their preparedness in more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact Vicky Collins Emergency Management Officer at SGSC 0447 551 985 or Community Engagement Officer Paul McCallum at CFA on 5551 1514.