Approximately 300 plants were delivered to Lake Conjola on 5^th Feb 2021 and were gratefully received by residents. The project is designed not only to assist with environmental recovery but also to help with the mental health of traumatised residents.

Plans were developed through our facebook contacts with Lake Conjola Recovery Committee and coordinated with the Red Cross regional recovery officer, and resilience staff at Shoalhaven Council.

Donated plants were collected from three nurseries, mainly through the initiative of IVP member Mahesh. They were then transported in three cars and a trailer.  On the way to Lake Conjola, we passed through many kilometres of burnt-out bushland and stopped to admire the amazing bush recovery.

Native Daisies

Eucalyptus trees sprouting new growth.

(photos:  Rita Warleigh)

A mixture of native plants, herbs, and some small decorative plants were eagerly picked up by the residents and were all gone within three hours. It was a lovely social event too, and our team of IVP volunteers (Stephen, Kerrina, Inez, Rita) had great conversations and heard some heartbreaking stories. One resident commented: “I met people here that I don’t normally see around the community”.

IVP plans to continue these deliveries throughout the next two years, with one or two deliveries a month.  With the help of local councils, we are reaching out to other often isolated rural communities that had been in the path of the fires, where recovery from personal, social, and economic losses can be slowest.

(The following photos were taken on the day by Kerrina Swords ….)