12/10/2026
Fawcett Hall update
12 October 2026
It’s actually been a fairly quiet week physically at Fawcett Hall, but behind the scenes there has been plenty happening.
A lot of my week has been taken up with continued bridge advocacy, as well as supporting BlazeAid’s call for changes to the Working Holiday Maker regulations so international volunteers can continue supporting rural communities following disasters.
We’ve also been working away on our Open Weekend coming up later this month.
Saturday morning, though, the depot was absolutely buzzing, with plenty of landowners coming in to collect their fencing material allocations and dropping in to chat and grab a cuppa!
There was also plenty of discussion about Patterson’s curse, capeweed, who’s cutting hay and what everyone is seeing across the district at the moment — all the normal rural conversations that tell you spring is well and truly here.
And this week coming could be a very exciting one.
We’re expecting an announcement regarding the bridges tomorrow, on site, from Mayor Damien, and like everyone in our committee and community, I’m hoping it’s really good news.
Then on Wednesday we have a special contribution coming from Alexandra Lions Club, Lions Clubs District 201V5 and the District Emergency Response team, which we’re really looking forward to.
I’m also pleased to be involved as a panel member in the upcoming LEAP Communities Forum in Yea, organised by Murrindindi Shire Council LEAP Project Officer Danna.
It will be another great opportunity to talk about resilience, recovery and what community-led recovery actually looks like on the ground.
It’s also a chance to connect, share and learn from each other’s experiences.
The forum is being moderated by Anne Leadbeater OAM — one of those quiet, unassuming legends who has been a massive support to many of us, and who is now working in bushfire recovery at the Shire.
A quick Tool Share update reminder too — we’ve added container wheels.
These little beauties are going to be popular, particularly alongside our magnetic brooms, which continue to be one of the most requested items in the Tool Share.
And finally, you may have spotted a few familiar Fawcett faces on A Current Affair on Saturday night.
Our “We Need a Bridge” story came about after local resident Fiona contacted ACA and asked them to look at what our community has been dealing with.
Journalist Georgia and her crew then came to Fawcett Hall and spoke directly with locals.
I’m very proud of the people who agreed to speak.
It takes courage to talk publicly about your experience when you’ve already been through the trauma of bushfire and months of recovery.
But those voices matter.
They helped explain that this is not simply about replacing a bridge.
It’s about access, farming, school transport, medical appointments, emergency services, family life and allowing a community to properly recover.
So, fingers crossed for tomorrow.
Hopefully, by next week’s update, I’ll have some very good news to share.
Thanks and have a great week
Pres Sam
