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BIG Weather wrap up – thanks Mildura region!

THANKS to the Mildura region! – Here’s the BIG Weather wrap up

Mildura & Red Cliffs locals came together to share what’s needed to prepare for heat, floods, dust storms & a lot more

Recently in Mildura & Red Cliffs, locals, community leaders & experts gathered for two BIG conversations about common experiences & the impacts of extreme weather

From heatwaves to dust storms to floods & fire ‘BIG’ Weather is becoming a part of daily life in our region. So how do we respond? How can we be better prepared, more connected & more resilient?

These gatherings were a chance to listen, learn & share ideas & the message was clear: while we can’t stop the weather, we can be ready, we can manage ourselves & we can take small actions that really do make a world of difference

🔥 What we heard

From practical tips to big-picture ideas, local presenters shared what’s already working – & what’s needed moving forward:

  • Take personal responsibility – don’t wait to be told what to do
  • Start small – even tying down loose items before a storm can help reduce damage
  • Use what’s available – like the VIC Emergency app for alerts
  • Talk to your neighbours – check in, make a plan, set up a buddy system
  • Keep essentials on hand – radio, torch, battery bank, emergency kit
  • Improve home safety – clean gutters, seal windows, create shade with plants
  • Think ahead – especially for older people, renters & those who live alone

“If each person protects their own home, the whole neighbourhood is better off.” – Lyle Short, SES

🏡 Liveable & Resilient Homes

One of the big focuses was what we can do to make our homes more comfortable, efficient & resilient to extreme heat, wind & water

Jordan White from White Houses spoke about simple design features that help homes maintain a healthy temperature – without the need for constant air conditioning or heating. Things like:

  • Passive house design – positioning, insulation, shading
  • Glazed windows & door seals
  • Cost-effective retrofitting tips for existing homes

Locals shared heaps of creative ideas too – from draft proofing with door snakes, to running street BBQs for communal gutter cleaning, to starting community gardens & planting native, drought-resistant trees

Want inspiration? Visit White Houses’ website or check out the Retrofitting for Resilience Guide

Want inspiration? Visit White Houses’ website or check out the Retrofitting for Resilience Guide.

🌿 Backyard & Bigger

Farming & rural life was front & centre with many powerful perspectives shared:

Kelly Wandel, from the documentary Just a Farmer, reminded us that farmers are not just food producers – they’re engineers, decision-makers, business owners & community leaders. They deal with the weather every single day !

“In your lifetime, you might need a lawyer 3 times, a doctor 3 times a year – but you need a farmer 3 times a day.”

Farmers & Ag specialists spoke about:

  • Growing what thrives in this climate
  • Rethinking land use & farm design
  • Having local conversations about climate, not just political ones
  • Valuing the knowledge farmers already have & supporting them to adapt

Want inspiration? Visit White Houses’ website or check out the Retrofitting for Resilience Guide.

💬 What you said

PLUS there was terrific discussion in the room. Here are just a few ideas that were shared:

    • Set up neighbourhood email or WhatsApp groups to stay connected during emergencies
    • Encourage buddy systems – especially for elderly or isolated residents
    • Promote the VIC Emergency app through schools, sports clubs & local events
    • Provide free advice on sustainable gardening & energy saving upgrades
    • Offer incentives for landlords to retrofit homes with insulation, blinds, draught seals
    • Encourage nature strip planting & shade trees to cool streets
    • Organise working bees or street BBQs to clean gutters & prep homes
    • Make space for emotional resilience with conversations, workshops & community care

There were also powerful discussions around insurance, psychological readiness, leadership & shifting the mindset from “it won’t happen here” to “we can be ready”

🎥 Local voices on video

We also filmed four short videos capturing local perspectives on BIG Weather, resilience & practical action:

🧡 Vashti Aratangi – Staying connected makes all the difference
Vashti from Red Cliffs Community Resource Centre talks about living through BIG Weather & why community connection is key to coping with crisis
👉 Watch Vashti’s video here

💧 Bev Thompson – When you’re doing it Alone, every bit of help counts
Bev shares her experience of the recent floods, from preparing alone to the joy of unexpected help arriving at her door
👉 Watch Bev’s video here

☀️ Lacey Hately – What a heatwave taught me about being prepared
Lacey describes surviving 47°C days with three young kids, no air con, & no power, unpacking the tools that helped her get through
👉 Watch Lacey’s video here

🔥 Bradd Baldock – Big Weather is inevitable – It’s how we respond that matters
With decades of experience at Parks Victoria, Bradd shares what nature teaches us about recovery & why local knowledge matters
👉 Watch Bradd’s video here

🗣️ Add your voice

Didn’t get a chance to attend? Or have more to add?
We’re still collecting insights to inform future projects across the region

👉 Add your voice here

Every perspective & small wisdom HELPS & sharing your ideas & experience might support someone else prepare, too !

📚 More resources to explore

Looking for more info? These links are a great place to start:

🙏 Thank you

Big thanks to all our speakers, partners, volunteers & participants, for helping make these events meaningful

And thank you, for being part of the growing community of people working together to build resilience, support each other & respond to BIG Weather in ways that are caring, smart, creative & grounded in local knowledge

Let’s keep the conversation going & keep taking action!

If you’d like to stay in the loop with what’s happening, subscribe HERE, or book in for a chat HERE to see how we can support you to make a change!

If you’d like to stay in the loop with what’s happening, subscribe HERE, or book in for a chat HERE to see how we can support you to make a change!