Where the Hills Remember: St Andrews Residents Step Bravely into Bushfire Preparedness
Last Wednesday evening we were welcomed into the St Andrews Community Centre for our first Immersive Bushfire Experience workshop in town. Fourteen residents joined us beneath the centre’s soaring cathedral ceilings, with dusk settling across the surrounding bushland through the tall windows. It was a beautiful yet sobering setting to talk about fire, fear, and preparedness. A huge thanks to Sandy, Julie and Melissa from the St Andrews Community Centre for recruiting participants and welcoming us so warmly into their community.
We also grateful to have the acting captain of the St Andrews CFA Brigade, Jason, and his colleague Pat attend. CFA participants always add a depth of practical insight to the workshop, and true to form they stayed back long after the session to talk through the detail of people’s plans, concerns, and local conditions.
Many of the residents had lived through Black Saturday. Their willingness to step into an immersive experience that mirrors the sensory and emotional pressure of a fire day showed extraordinary courage. Some spoke about the survivor guilt they still carry. Others described how deeply the memories of that day live on in their bodies and minds, influencing their preparedness for the next season. Their openness created a powerful, reflective space for the whole group.
As daylight dimmed outside, people began to articulate the gaps in their own plans: gaps they hadn’t recognised until the VR scenario brought the pressures of a fire day to life. One couple arrived without any written plan at all, but left with a clear first draft and a commitment to complete it before summer. These small yet significant shifts are exactly the kind of momentum we aim to build.
Feedback from the night was rich and thoughtful. Many residents emphasised how important it is that the workshop be made available to more people, not only households but also new firefighters. Several spoke about how the VR scenario made the urgency of early decision-making unmistakable. Others reflected on the emotional preparedness component and the value of understanding how stress, fear, and family dynamics influence decision-making.
One participant captured the spirit of the evening beautifully:
The best antidote to fear is action. This experience — both the VR and the session around it — made action feel achievable and necessary.
Other feedback included:
The VR component was excellent — I was able to test my fire plan as I watched.
It really opened my eyes to how unprepared we were.
Great to come with others in your household.
A MUST for anyone living in or near the bush — potentially life-saving.
I learnt a lot about emotional preparedness. Virtual experience excellent.
After the formal session ended, people stayed back for a long time, continuing conversations with the CFA and with each other — swapping stories, checking assumptions, and refining their plans. That lingering energy of connection and shared purpose is what strengthens a community long after the workshop ends.
Thank you to everyone in St Andrews who showed such openness, courage, and commitment to staying safer this summer. We look forward to supporting more Nillumbik communities in the months ahead.
