As our community continues to work together to support the families and businesses affected by the 9 January 2026 bushfire at Harcourt, it is time to acknowledge the incredible support that our club has received from fellow Rotary Clubs, businesses and the wider community to do this work. You are all amazing!
UPDATE 01/04/2026
Tania Butterworth reports that the Distribution Centre is closed until April 20. The Harcourt Progress Association is engaging mental health support services for volunteers and families as they enter a new phase of grief and tougher times. As predicted, this will be a long journey.
President Trevor Bray and President Elect Linn Maskell travelled Avondale Heights to collect donated power tools and workshop items from Helen Blom who wanted her late husband's estate to benefit the fire victims. "It was a good feeling for us both to be involved in this very kind act," said Trevor.
Following on from his tour of the Distribution Centre the previous week, Rotary's Guest Speaker for 1 April was Gary Spinner from the Rotary Club of Bendigo South who discussed his extensive research into establishing an emergency relief network in central Victoria.
UPDATE 25/03/2026
We were delighted to tour the Fire Relief Donation-Distribution Centre on Wednesday with representatives from Bendigo South and Bendigo Sandhurst also travelling down to join us.
Coordinator Tania Butterworth provided a valuable insight into how the centre operates and the needs of the 40 or so families that visit each week. With winter approaching there is a whole new range of needs.
We have three registrations for the next Starthrower Wellbeing Experience for fire impacted women in late April. The dates for May will be released soon. Please contact Kerry Anderson on 0418 553 719 if you require further details.
Kerry Anderson recently interviewed members of the Mallacoota and District Recovery Association to get their reflections on community recovery six years following their devastating fire. WATCH INTERVIEW
UPDATE 18/03/2026
- Rotary Castlemaine is visiting the Donation-Distribution Centre at 7 Johnstone Street 5-6pm on Wednesday 25 March if any interested people would like to join us for the tour and pizza afterwards [please register through a club member or contact Kerry on 0418 553 719 to help us with catering].
- A big thank you to our latest contributors: RAWCS [Rotary disaster responder] for their donation of $5,000, Gunnedah West RC $5,000, and Taree on Manning RC $1,000.
- Our first Starthrower Wellbeing Experience was held 17-20 March with the support of Rotary Ocean Grove and Bendigo.
"It was a lovely group of women who cared about us and recognised the exhaustion we were feeling. I appreciated the generosity shown to us and it was so nice to see the ocean. The yoga, massage and a workshop on self-care were great. I am talking to my friends about how good it was and encouraging them to go. Thank you." Susannah
NB: More experiences for Harcourt fire impacted women are being scheduled for subsequent months - Kerry Anderson is the local contact on 0418 553 719.
UPDATE 09/03/2026
Our work will continue during the year but it is timely to say THANK YOU and WELL DONE to everyone who has contributed.
The new stage base [roof is still to come] was completed in time for Applefest to entertain over 8,000 people on Saturday 7 March. A wonderful morale and financial boost to the fire impacted community of Harcourt. Rotary Castlemaine was there all day to give support with parking and to greet Rotarians from other visiting clubs including our District Governor. 30 bicycles were donated in a call out through our social media, and, in exciting news, the first of many women are heading off for the Starthrower Wellbeing Experience on 17 March.
With great appreciation to those who given their support to enable Rotary Castlemaine to make a difference. This list continue to grow daily.
ROTARY DONATIONS
$6,000 Rotary Club of Sandhurst
$5,000 RAWCS
$5,000 Rotary Club of Gunnedah West
$1,000 Rotary Club of Taree on Manning
$3,000 Rotary Club of Altona City
$2,500 Rotary Club of Pinjarra WA
$3,000 Rotary Club of Kangaroo Flat
$4,000 Rotary Club of Carlton
$1,000 Rotary Club of Bendigo
$1,000 Rotary Club of Fitzroy
$2,000 Rotary Club of Malvern + CEM
$1,000 Rotary Club of South Bendigo
$1,548.96 Rotary Club of Woodend
$1,000 Rotary Club of Lakes Entrance
$2,000 Rotary Club of Beaumaris
Donations in Kind [donated household items]
VicEmergency Relief Network [ " " ]
Rotary Club of Bendigo & Ocean Grove [StarThrower Women’s Wellbeing Retreat]
BUSINESS SUPPORT
$5,000 The Mill [Phil McConachy]
$13,651 AFS Chartered Accountants
Maxi IGA [donation of food]
Barty Gas [donation of gas]
The Dove Catering [donation of food]
Giant Castlemaine [safety check of bikes]
Lyall Eales [donated hire of truck]
Cliffords Meats [discounted food]
We Are Vivid Upcycle Program [donation of 6 bicycles]
It is also appropriate to acknowledge the incredible work of the Harcourt Progress Association and their fellow groups, the Lions Club of Castlemaine and various groups, networks and businesses who have given support and organised fundraisers in and around our community. It is truly awesome.
UPDATE: 18 February 2026
So what is happening on the ground with our Club? Lots is the answer. Here is a quick summary.
James Park Stage is underway and on schedule to be used at Applefest on Saturday 7 March followed by the quarterly markets and other events. The lead agency for bushfire recovery, the Harcourt Progress Association, has written thanking us for our support and explaining that the stage in James Park is considered an integral part of their community recovery strategy and is a project that has been developed over a number of years by the Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourism Centre Inc that hosts festivals and markets. In addition to other entities, Rotary Castlemaine committed $40,000 to this project after consulting with the Mount Alexander Shire, the Harcourt Progress Association, members of Harcourt Valley Heritage & Tourism Centre and Applefest committees, and Rotarians. NB: The roof is not included in this first stage of the project but is part of the long-term plans.
Donation Distribution Centre: continues to provide valuable resources for impacted families, everything from clothing to stock feed. In the initial week of operation Rotary provided 8 volunteers per day and most recently, we put out a call and received 16 bicycles donated by the public. We have secured items through Donations in Kind and on 17 February [see pic below] we unloaded a truck of electrical appliances and household items from the Vic Emergency Relief Network. President Trevor Bray and Director Marina Scott continue to stay in touch daily to provide assist. Marina has established a database to match household furniture donations with families as they move into temporary accommodation.
Purchase of washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards: for installation at the Harcourt Community House located in the old Railway Station. Given it is a heritage building we are awaiting advice on the cost of the installation.
Emergency Relief: $13,651 in Woolworth vouchers are being distributed through the key organising agency, the Harcourt Progress Association at their two recovery centres. This was made possible through a fundraising raffle organised by AFS Chartered Accountants.
StarThrower Women’s Wellbeing Experience: The Rotary Clubs of Bendigo and Ocean Grove have generously offered their StarThrower Women’s Wellbeing Experience to women impacted by the Harcourt fires. This will provide a 3 night-4 day beach experience at no cost in Point Lonsdale or Queenscliff. Enquiries to Kerry Anderson on 0418 553 719 if you would like more details. DOWNLOAD BROCHURE
Fundraiser Events: Our portable stage has been loaned to support bushfire fundraisers conducted at the Global Village Learning Centre and the Taproom. It will also be in use at Applefest. Likewise, our BBQ trailer continues to be in high demand, sometimes with Rotarians and other times used by other community groups.
Resident support: As has been well documented since the fire, Rotary has provided practical support to fire impacted residents, with free food and drinks distributed at the Community Recovery Centre [in partnership with Lions and the Soccer Club] and a pool party for the kids.
