The beginning of 2026 has been nothing short of heartbreaking for so many families across our state. In my own community the year began with a frightening reminder of how quickly conditions can change. On 7 January a grassfire broke out along the Sunraysia Highway between Maryborough and St Arnaud. In extreme heat, around 40 firefighting units rushed to the scene. Before the fire was contained by crews on the ground and in the air, 28 hectares of farmland had been burned. Families in Moyreisk, Natte Yallock, Redbank and Stuart Mill were told to leave their homes. Roads were closed. People waited anxiously for news about their properties, their neighbours and their animals. It was a really tense day for so many, but things worsened even more only two days later.
On 9 January catastrophic conditions created more than 30 active fires across Victoria, including major fires in Streatham, Carranballac and the rural areas of Skipton. These fires moved with terrifying speed, leaving devastation in their wake. I saw the impact firsthand when I brought the Deputy Premier to our region just a few days later. What we witnessed was gut wrenching: more than 18,000 hectares lost, dozens of homes destroyed, farm machinery and fencing obliterated and over 10,000 livestock dead. The stories of the farmers who had to shoot 2000 to 3000 sheep and of ammunition being completely used up are absolutely horrific.
Families who had lived on the land for generations were suddenly faced with unimaginable loss, and yet in the middle of that devastation we also saw the very best of our community. Neighbours and strangers were checking in on one another, helping to move stock, sharing equipment and opening up their homes to those who had lost everything. Local brigades worked around the clock, supported by volunteers who brought food, water and whatever else was needed. Together they protected and cared for so many. Even the Carranballac Cricket Club, whose cricket balls had literally turned to ash, were already planning their next training night just six days after losing everything. That determination, that refusal to be beaten, is exactly what defines our rural communities.
I have always said that we have some of the best people that you could ever meet in Ripon, but I have seen it proven over and over again in the last three weeks. I saw it again in Linton on 25 January, where hundreds of people converged on the rec reserve to support the Carranballac Cricket Club. In just two weeks, local clubs had organised a T20 double-header, with a jumping castle, face painting, an auction and a raffle – all to raise money for bushfire recovery. Thank you so much to everyone who made that event possible, especially Luke and Jess Jackson, Kirk McDonald and the Grenville league. Your leadership and your generosity lifted spirits at a time when people desperately needed hope. I also want to acknowledge our first responders – the firefighters, the police, the paramedics and the volunteers – who protected homes, farms and entire communities. Without their courage and skill, the losses from the Streatham fire would have been so much worse. The recovery effort is now well underway, and I want to recognise the many organisations and individuals who have stepped up.
BlazeAid are now based at the Skipton Golf Club, with volunteers clearing hundreds of kilometres of fencing already. Local volunteers like Tash, Lauren and Gayle are keeping families fed through the Skipton Food Bank, and donations have been so generous that a shipping container has been brought in to store them. The local Skipton op shop is also working around the clock to get essential supplies to those who need them most. These acts of kindness matter so much. They help people feel less alone in these days.
As we begin the long road to recovery, it is vital that those impacted know that help is available and that they do not have to navigate this alone. Government agencies are working closely with the community to make sure every affected family receive the support that they need. Grants for immediate relief, mental health support and clean-up assistance have been made available, and a recovery network coordinated by amazing local women like Megan Read and Lyn Heenan has also been set up to keep momentum strong and make sure that no-one falls through the cracks. More assistance will follow, and healing will take time, but no-one will face that journey alone. Together we will rebuild.
