Our community

Photo gallery

Moments from the relief and recovery effort across Highlands and district — neighbours helping neighbours, supplies getting where they're needed, and the country coming back.

Fog settling over the Highlands valley with wind turbines on the far ridge — Morning fog across the valley, with the regrowth coming back through the hills.

Burnt bushland on a ridge above a valley filled with cloud — Burnt ridgeline above the cloud — the country is slowly healing.

Two volunteers standing among donated clothing, food and supplies inside the hall — Inside the hall during the relief effort, sorting donated food, clothing and essentials.

Three community members with donated wheelbarrows beside the Highlands fire truck — Donated wheelbarrows handed out to help landholders with the clean-up.

A volunteer handing over a donated power tool kit to a local resident — Tools back in local hands — replacing what was lost in the fires.

Two volunteers carrying a donated tent from the supply containers — Tents and swags going out to households still without shelter.

Two volunteers smiling beside a car and trailer on a country road — On the road together — local contractors and volunteers lending a hand.

Community members beside the AusNet emergency management mobile assistance van — Mobile assistance on site, with power, WiFi and device charging for the community.

A group of locals gathered outdoors around a birthday cake on a rebuilt property — Still celebrating birthdays — community spirit on a burnt block.

A brick bell tower left standing among the ruins of a burnt building — The bell tower still standing — a reminder of what we're rebuilding.

Fire crews gathered outside the Highlands Community Hall — Crews from across Victoria and New South Wales taking a break at the Highlands Community Hall.

CFA tankers from Yarrambat and Plenty parked at the Highlands fire station — Strike teams from Yarrambat and Plenty staging at the Highlands fire station.

Two men holding up an Australian flag inside the hall surrounded by donated supplies — A donated flag for the hall, among the shelves of food, water and clothing.

Two men raising the Australian flag on a bush pole outside the community hall — Raising the flag out the front of the hall — a bush pole and plenty of pride.

Emergency services members and a volunteer with donated petrol generators outside the hall — Donated generators arriving to keep power on for households off the grid.

Australian Sikh Support volunteers serving hot meals to locals under a marquee — Australian Sikh Support serving hot meals to the community, night after night.

A health worker covered in stickers with a young child on her lap at the hall — Visiting health and dental services at the hall — stickers all round.

A young child dressed in CFA turnout gear giving two thumbs up — The next generation of firefighters, ready to go.

Two women smiling beside a donated spinning wheel on a country roadside — A replacement spinning wheel found for a local — the small things matter too.

Hands with bright red nails painted with black lettering — A bit of colour and good humour — locals keeping spirits up through the recovery.

A lit Christmas tree and wrapped presents inside the shearing shed — The tree up and the presents wrapped, ready for the community Christmas party.

Locals seated at long trestle tables under the shearing shed roof — Long tables, red gingham and a full shed for the community Christmas dinner.

A crowd at long tables with a guitarist playing on stage — Live music and a shed full of neighbours — Christmas at Habbies Howe.

Children lining up to collect presents from Santa in the shed — The queue for Santa — presents handed out to every kid in the district.

Santa seated beside a lit Christmas tree with his sack of presents — Santa settled in beside the tree, sack at the ready.

A volunteer in a Christmas jumper handing presents to Santa — Volunteers keeping Santa supplied — plenty of smiles all round.