Committee For Lorne: A word from the Chairman – March 22, 2018

What an amazing weekend! – “Where else but Lorne?” There are times that I might get a bit carried away about how lucky we are to be able to embrace, enjoy and appreciate every day of our life in the natural beauty of what is Lorne, but I never ever take it for granted. But there is also another side to our town that continues to evolve as every year passes and at times, it’s difficult to describe but let me give you a snapshot.

Last week the atmosphere around town was building as artists erected their amazing creative works, our “Shedders” with truck and forklift, proudly sat “Couta” where it looked so at home, Dick moved a rock that the Ocean couldn’t, one of the world’s most famous motorcycle chapters were preparing for a weekend away, final touches were being made in preparation for multiple Lorne wedding celebrations, State and Federal Police were on high alert for angels of any background and our local lawn bowlers were waiting anxiously to learn who they would play in the Grand Final.

And this was all before the weekend had even started, autumn in Lorne quiet and slowing – I don’t think so! Friday evening saw a large number of both uniformed and plain clothed police enter town in highway patrol vehicles, motor cycles, foot patrols and with drug and booze buses greeting visitors this was a weekend like no other. The sensational Sculpture exhibition was officially opened and thousands walked the trail in summer warmth of what can only be described as a truly international experience – just brilliant.

Lorne was presenting at its absolute best, the weddings looked spectacular adjacent to the water’s edge, our motor cycle visitors were angels and the police presence is still being talked about. Nightfall on Saturday was like a changing of the seasons with the warmth and still skies seeing in darkness and then it all changed, our first rains for over a month, gale force winds and temperatures dipping to the low teens and the first reports of bush fires to our south, it was more like spring than autumn and again Lorne had delivered on all fronts.

With the bush fires and the devastation that we have all seen across national media our local bowlers have to wait another week to see who they will play in their Grand Final. Organisers of the competition have rescheduled the preliminary final for this Saturday with the winner taking on our Lorne team in the Grand Final on Sunday – Good luck Lorne!

On another note, following the Lorne community’s experience with the Wye River / Jamieson Track bushfire in late 2015, the Committee for Lorne (CfL) placed a high priority on helping the community to become more resilient when faced with an emergency, such as a bushfire. That is, being prepared, coping with the emergency, and recovering from it.

To that end the Committee embraced a community-driven program launched by the State Government in several towns across the State – Community Based Bushfire Management (CBBM).

A Working Group of the Committee has been established to implement this program. It consists of five community members and is facilitated by a DELWP representative and readily assisted by Surf Coast Shire, CFA, EMV and other key stakeholders.

The Lorne CBBM Working Group has already met several times and (among other projects) is keen to be able to measure the Lorne community’s progress towards becoming more resilient. So to provide a baseline against which to measure this progress, the Committee for Lorne is distributing an initial survey as widely as possible to members of the Lorne community. When you receive a copy of this survey through one of our communication channels, please complete it promptly and return it as directed. This survey will also help identify gaps in our resilience, on which the Working Group will focus its attention. You can complete the survey on line at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/lornecommresiliencesurvey

Please contact Birgitte Hutchens (CBBM Facilitator, DELWP) on 0407 716 676 for more information

Ian Stewart
Chairman – Committee for Lorne