Deepwater celebrates community and volunteer groups
Around one hundred people attended Deepwater’s first Community & Volunteer Expo on Saturday May 10, with Deepwater Hall chair Mary Hollingworth declaring the event “a stellar success”.
Originally conceived as a showcase of work by the Deepwater Sewing & Quilting Group, the expo quickly grew into a whole-community event with representatives from almost every local volunteer group and community organisation in attendance.
The Sewing & Quilting group displayed a wide selection of their work including quilts, babies’ clothes, knitted jumpers and decorative items. The group has met weekly for more than twenty years, and regularly donates quilts and other items to hospitals in NSW.
Other organisations with displays included the town’s sports clubs, emergency services, churches, art and craft groups and more. A free sausage sizzle was provided by the Deepwater Progress Association. Members of the hall committee and the Progress Association said that the day had been “fabulous on every level” and that the expo could become an annual event.
Workshop boosts Deepwater community resilience
A workshop designed to improve community resilience in times of disaster was held at the Deepwater hall on Wednesday May 14, with 20 local residents attending. Sponsored by GLENRAC, the workshop discussed the emotional impact of disaster on communities, development of a register of local skills and assets, and recognising and harnessing different personality types.
Attendees at the workshop included members of the SES and Rural Fire Service, community leaders, and other interested locals. Progress Association Secretary, Tricia Stack, said that the night was very informative. Chris McIntosh, member of the Deepwater Hall committee, also found the evening useful and instructive. “This really emphasises the importance of cooperation and collaboration, especially when times are tough, and in small rural communities in particular. It was good to be reminded that small towns like ours contain a wealth of local knowledge, skills and experience. We are capable of much more than we realise, especially when we can work together” he said.
