Chapter 1
The communities living in the Dandenong Ranges, the densely wooded hills that rise from the edge of the suburbs to the East of Melbourne, are used to changeable weather conditions - often waking to mists that limit visibility until the clouds caught in the treetops blow away and the sun breaks through to showcase the fabulous views along the Turist road that threads its was through the villages along Mount Dandenong.
The weather forecast on Wed ? ? June indicated that there was a period of stormy weather approaching Melbourne with high winds overnight, so folks checked the furniture on the decking and made sure all was secure as the light faded and the winds began to build up. But no one could have imagined the devastation evident as dawn broke.
In the past year the Hills Creative Alliance team has worked on a number of projects and made good partnerships with other community organisations and individuals eg in consultation the YRC storm recovery team and with the Kalorama Collective, we set up a Community Art Exhibition in Karwarra Garden; we also work with Olinda Community House to run sessions every Friday with opportunities for local people affected by the storm to meet, these were originally called 'Storm Stories', but now they have become 'Community Focus Fridays' with speakers and discussion. We support St Michael's drop in sessions on Tuesday afternoons, making soup and helping out in various ways; we are also bringing local groups together to stage the YRC funded Community Festival on Sun 17th July - one year after Murrundindi's smoking ceremony brought healing to the Hills. This project extends this successful community engagement.