By John Longhurst

From the ashes and despair of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire season, a monthly picnic in Batemans Bay is uniting the community, with a focus on wellbeing and reducing social isolation.

The picnic celebrated its first birthday last Sunday on the foreshore of the Clyde River, west of the bridge.

The idyllic summer day was matched with a party atmosphere with Turlinjah Jazz singer Lesley Lambert belting out tunes.

For the past year, up to ninety people from all walks of life have gathered at 12.30pm on the last Sunday of every month to meet, enjoy a free picnic, exchange ideas and offer support.

The initiative is led by a local nutritionist, Ms Sofia Keady who coordinates the fifteen volunteers who set up, sort name tags, run the barbecue, serve the food and encourage social interaction.

Sofia said “Many people living in Eurobodalla consumes meals alone or experience social isolation which are well established risk factors for under nutrition. Moreover, loneliness and a lack of social integration are associated with serious physical and psychological issues.”

The initiative received a major boost last December with a grant from ‘Fire to Flourish’.

‘Fire to Flourish’ has four founding partners: Monash University, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Metal Manufactures Pty Ltd and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation.

It is a five-year collaborative program to advance community led disaster recovery from the 2019-20 Australian bushfire season and promote long-term resilience. It partners with communities to co-create the foundations for a thriving future.

The local initiative received further funding last Friday with Batemans Bay Soldiers Club making a significant donation, allowing for the purchase of a box trailer.

Sofia said “On top of these grants and donations, we have had fantastic support from local small businesses all the way through to the major supermarkets. The Salvation Army, Rotary Batemans Bay, Batemans Bay Filipino community and South Coast Community Kitchen. Local media have also been generous in promoting the picnic, ensuring it has evolved into a social event connecting our community.”

From very humble beginnings, organisers have been able to purchase a refrigerator to store donated food, gazebos with walls, tables and chairs.

Sofia said “We have created a very safe environment for our senior citizens, our disabled community and many vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and families. It is great to see people socialising from all walks of life and I look forward to forming new friendships each month.”

Batemans Bay resident Garry McNally has been volunteering for the past year.