It was a time for reflection, catching up and enjoying the healing balm of community when Tallong came together on Sunday.
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Some 300 people crowded into Watling Park to thank firefighters' efforts in the bushfires earlier this year, celebrate the Memorial Hall's centenary and open a sculpture garden in the ground's picturesque reserve.
The day was funded by $80,000 from the state government's Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery program. A further $20,000 was devoted to business recovery workshops in the area.
Resilience was indeed the key theme for most of those attending on Sunday.
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Tallong Community Focus Group president Chrissy Wurston said people had endured the stress of the Currowan/Morton fire earlier this year that brigades fought hard to keep at bay from the village. An event to thank the 'firies' and unite the community had been organised for Anzac Day but then COVID intervened.
"I think everyone was looking forward to coming together," Mrs Wurston said.
"The most important thing was to acknowledge men and women for their sacrifice. People gave up Christmas holidays and some of the firies worked 45 days straight...If not for them Tallong would have been in trouble."
Sunday's event also thanked brigades in group six, taking in areas including Marulan, Bungonia and Big Hill, as well as firefighters from further afield who had converged on the village. The community pitched in with food, drinks and donations during the blazes, at times supporting up to 100 personnel.
"It was an exhausting time," Mrs Wurston said.
"The community has missed coming together. Normally it would be on Apple Day but that was cancelled due to COVID. Hopefully we'll have some normality next year."
People had a healthy dose of that on Sunday as they enjoyed music and other entertainment, children's activities, lunch catered by The Midge general store, presentations and speeches. Forty brigade members received the Premier's Bushfire Emergency Citation, thanking them for their efforts. Four volunteers received long service awards and group six captain Graeme Welsh was recognised for his immense contribution during the fires.
Mr Welsh said it was a particularly tough time for volunteers as they'd attended the Green Wattle fire around Christmas, then the Jacqua outbreak, followed by Currowan and Morton blazes.
"We kept crews on the fire around Tallong for 24 hours so it took a lot of organising," he said.
"It was a big effort by everyone, from the ladies providing the food to those who provided water tankers because the dams were dry. Logistically it was very difficult but it was a whole community effort."
Emcee Geoff Kettle described Sunday as a fantastic event and praised Mrs Wurston for its organisation.
Hume MP Angus Taylor, Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman, Mayor Geoff Kettle, Deputy Mayor Peter Walker and Cr Carol James also attended the day.
In addition, the event celebrated Tallong Memorial Hall's centenary. The facility has been repainted using the state funds, while Gunlake Quarry paid for new honour rolls listing trustees. Dugald and Janet Black also launched their book, detailing the hall's history.
Nearby, people strolled among the garden now filled with 10 metal sculptures by Marulan's Shannon Hobbs of the area's fauna and flora, including the koala, lyre bird, a life-size kangaroo, echidna, wombat, platypus, endangered black cockatoo and bats. They're accompanied by educational signage, landscaping, a sculpture of the historic Caoura barn and appropriately, a firefighter.
Mrs Wurston said it was a great day that ran smoothly, despite slightly lower numbers than anticipated.
"It was a day that all who served the community deserved, especially the fire brigades," she said.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
