Within hours of news that homes had been lost the community around Scotsburn, near Ballarat, was already rallying to support those affected.
Rapid impact assessment crews hadn’t yet confirmed the number of properties destroyed but generous members of the public wasted no time getting to work.
Within just hours of the fire breaking out a community meeting was quickly organised and around 200 people turned out, filling Buninyong Town Hall.
A relief centre took shape not long after, as the public began turning up with donations.
At the next community meeting the morning the town hall was again filled to capacity, with an extra hundred people spilled onto the street outside.
Again donations arrived by the box load.
The local supermarket had cleared its shelves and storerooms of bottle water which it had donated to firefighters and the affected community.
More than 200 donations of clothing and bedding had also quickly filled the Buninyong Anglican church.
Bride and groom Carli and Ennis Cehic turned an unfortunate change to their wedding plans into a positive, by donating their entire wedding menu to firefighters.
There was also gifts of toys for those who’d lost everything just days before Christmas.
The outpouring of generosity was so great, that by Tuesday the relief centre was full.
Financial assistance became the priority with the Scotsburn Bushfire Appeal launched by the Buninyong and District Community Bank and Ballarat Community Health.
Donations can be made here.
Author: CFA Media