Submitted by daniel on Fri, 16/01/2026 - 00:16 Picture Image Description After catastrophic conditions ripped through their towns, community members are turning to each other to begin recovery efforts. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading Holiday Offer All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All other in your area Streatham and Skipton were among those affected in the state's worst fire conditions since the 2019-20 Black Summer, as 70kmh winds carried the blaze through homes and infrastructure. Megan Read at Streatham Memorial Hall to help coordinate relief efforts. Picture by Nick Powell 'Clean-up of the war zone' Megan Read and her family are cereal farmers, and have lived at Streatham for most of their lives. Since the January 9 fire, Ms Read has been on the front line helping to deliver emergency relief and communication to those affected. "People are still in shock, just heartbroken," Ms Read said. "Everyone's now got their heads around the huge clean-up of the war zone. It just looks like a moonscape." While official damage assessments continue, the true toll is being counted in the paddocks. "What gets people's hearts is the stock loss. It's in the tens of thousands. There was one farmer that had to euthanise 8000 head of sheep," Ms Read said. "There was a big call-out for donations of ammunition, as people had literally run out." The community's hurdle this week is the "red tape" as they wait for insurance assessors to inspect the damage, Ms Read said. Victoria's deputy premier, Ben Carroll, recently visited towns affected by the fires, including neighbouring Beaufort, describing the devastation as "total" and "devastating". "You can't imagine it unless you are here," Mr Carroll said. "And just hearing some of the anecdotes about different parts of cars melting, our farmers and our communities are resilient but they are also needing help and support right here, right now." Ms Read and other members of the public were quick to share the grim reality of the situation on the ground with the deputy premier. Ripon MP Martha Haylett, Streatham resident Megan Read, and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll at Beaufort Community Bank Complex, January 13. Picture by Nick Powell A major concern is the state's Emergency Services Levy increase, which largely affects farmers, like the Reads. "I've done the figures and the additional cost to me would be $52,000 with this levy increase," Ms Read told Mr Carroll. "Do I let a staff member go? Or do I just have to suck that tax up? It's not fair." Compounding the struggles of the communities on the ground is the antiquated equipment used by volunteer firefighters, like Ms Read, her husband, and her son. Community support As they wait for support, Ms Read and a number of other residents have created grassroots channels to coordinate and broadcast available support networks, with a WhatsApp group reaching nearly 200 affected residents. "We've started a group, a sort of conduit communicator between all the services and the private offers of help to just to coordinate that effort." Ms Read says 100 per cent of the people affected were farmers, as they grapple with destroyed crops, contaminated rainwater tanks, melted sewerage pipes, and the immediate need for stock fodder. While state services and relief agencies have been proactive, there is a disparity between the "metropolitan" help and farmers in need. "What we're finding is ... they're not taking into account that farmers won't seek help," Ms Read said. "They have a culture of pride and don't want to show vulnerability, so we're trying to coordinate the help for them." Lauren and Nicole from Skipton FoodBank delivering essentials to fire-affected communities. Picture by Nick Powell The team has been operating out of a borrowed community bus, loaded with food, water, sanitary items, and cleaning products, even driving door-to-door to reach those isolated by the fire's path. "We're going to all of the meetings that are on and trying to get the word out there," Nicole said. "It's open for anyone that's been affected by the fires or that can't get into essential services." Daily Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Weekdays The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Weekdays The evening wrap Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Weekly Subscriber Only Note from the Editor Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Weekly What's On Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. 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Daily Today's Paper Alert Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Daily Subscriber Only Your favourite puzzles Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Ad Advertisement Ad Web Link How fire-battered communities rebuild amid slow 'metropolitan' response - The C… The Courier | Ballarat, VIC