Flood recovery efforts receive boost from Rotary grant

By Jay Bryce

Aug 9, 2023

Community collaboration: Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer Amanda McCulloch, Rotary Club of Shepparton South foundation director Nigel Liggins and Goulburn Flood Recovery Service manager Amy Jones in front of Goulburn Flood Recovery Service. Photo by Jay Bryce

The Rotary Club of Shepparton South, Goulburn Flood Recovery Service, and Greater Shepparton Foundation have collaborated to establish the Flood Recovery Support Program to support people impacted by the floods in October last year.

The program is funded by a Rotary International Disaster Recovery Grant and provides gift vouchers to flood-impacted local people to relieve some of the financial pressure they are experiencing.

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Distributed through Goulburn Flood Recovery Service, on the corner of High St and Wyndham St, Shepparton, the gift vouchers will allow community members who have been financially impacted by the floods to purchase essential items from local businesses.

Rotary Club of Shepparton South foundation director Nigel Liggins said the $36,000 in funding was great evidence that local fundraising for international Rotary causes would always come back to help locals in a tangible way.

Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer Amanda McCulloch said GSF had no hesitation in partnering with the Rotary Club of Shepparton South and Goulburn Flood Recovery Service to assist in the administration of this program and provide residents with relief.

“We are acutely aware that our community’s flood recovery is a marathon and not a sprint. With this in mind we remain committed to the long-term recovery effort and to listening to the needs of our local residents and responding,” she said.

Goulburn Flood Recovery Service manager Amy Jones echoed Ms McCulloch’s sentiments and said that unfortunately the community would likely be continuing to recover for years.

“That’s why this ongoing support is so crucial, because there’s plenty of people who haven’t received the necessary support yet and still need it,” she said.

This initiative comes after the GSF and the Rotary Club of Shepparton South collaborated with Shepparton Family and Financial Services in July to donate blankets, heaters and hot-water bottles to flood-impacted community members who were forced to relocate from their homes due to flood damage.

Flood-impacted local people who would like to access this support are encouraged to contact Goulburn Flood Recovery Service on 5823 4700.