By Parker McKenzie
Rotary Club Monbulk will be hosting a storm recovery festival on Sunday February 27, where funding for several projects will be announced.
President of Rotary Club of Monbulk and District Helen Riethof said the festival was to show people in the mountains Rotary cares.
“People in the mountain I think have felt forgotten. We know some of them are still so badly impacted by the storm, with some still not in their homes,” Ms Riethof said.
“We just want them to know that people far and wide really do care.”
The festival will take place at St George’s Anglican Church Paddock, Main Street Monbulk from 10am until 2pm.
Ms Riethof said Rotary clubs from around Victoria are involved in providing support for projects aiming to assist people in the Dandenong Ranges.
“Rotary has raised about $120,000 from Rotarians all around Melbourne and the regions, and individual Rotarians and others as well.” she said.
“We’re currently working on applications to that grant. We’ve got three I think are going to be presented to the relevant parties at the festival.”
Projects which are likely to be funded through the grant include satellite phones in case of emergencies, a new roaster for the chestnut festival after one of destroyed during the storms and a children’s book detailing their experiences during the storm.
Ms Riethof said the criteria for the grants are to spend the money in a way that will benefit the community in the long term.
“We have a children’s book that was written and compiled in the Olinda and Kalorama area with schools involved, featuring illustrations by children who recorded their thoughts about the storm,” Ms Riethof said.
“The launch for those projects that have been approved and maybe still to be approved will be at the festival.”
The children’s book is titled The Story of the Big Storm and will officially launch at the festival.
Another project to be potentially funded is for essential equipment for SES units in the Dandenong Ranges.
The festival will also have amusements, food, live music and displays, with a gold coin entry donated to CFA and SES.
