On Saturday 10 February 2024, over 400 Hawkesbury locals enjoyed the Festival on the Fields event at Cougar Park, home of the Colo Soccer Football Club. This free event provided a well-deserved opportunity for the local community to come together and focus on some of the positive steps taken towards recovery following the devastation of the floods.

The Festival on the Fields was organised by Colo Soccer Football Club and made possible by funding we provided as part of our Community Wellbeing and Resilience Grants program. These Grants, funded by the Federal Government, support the wellbeing and resilience of flood affected communities, allowing them to choose their own way to respond to the losses, anxiety and distress they have experienced.

Colo Soccer Football Club was severely affected by the multiple flood events that hit the Hawkesbury region during 2021-2022. The Club suffered significant infrastructure damage and losses that impacted the local sporting community and families who rely on the facilities. Many of the volunteers who assisted the club in the clean up after each flood event, were also personally affected by the floods.

Event organisers, Colo Soccer Football Club, said that this event was a chance for the Club to thank volunteers for their support and to lift the spirits of the extended community. The organisers said that Sharon Bell was the driving force behind the event, from the first application through the grant process and to the delivery of the event. The Club would like to thank Sharon and everyone involved in the event planning for such a wonderful event.

The compounding trauma from numerous disasters, like drought, bushfires and floods, in addition to pressures from the pandemic, have taken their toll on many Hawkesbury residents. We know it can sometimes take several years for people to realise the huge impact that these traumas can have on their mental health. So, whilst it may seem like these disasters are in the past, the impacts of these events on this community are still being felt.

Research shows the importance of people coming together, socialising and providing informal support to each other after a natural disaster. This is particularly relevant to the Hawkesbury community that has been severely affected in recent times. The funding of this event focuses on social cohesion and connectedness, supporting mental health healing, and building on the existing strength of the community by encouraging post-trauma growth.

The people of Hawkesbury have been through a lot, and they deserve the opportunity these Grants provide, to come together and celebrate their recovery through positive community connections. More examples of funded Community Wellbeing and Resilience Grants are available on our website.

If you're in need of support, find out more about the mental health services that are available in your area.