A GROUP of Allora citizens gathered on Tuesday evening at the Allora RSL Hall to take a step in planning an improved response to future emergencies that may affect the local area.

The Community Recovery Forum, co-ordinated by Southern Downs Regional Council community development officer Pam Burley, allowed local community members to draw on their own experiences in recent serious flooding situations and have their say so as to formulate a future emergency response.

Southern Downs Regional Council volunteer co-ordinator Bette Bonney was also on hand to speak at the forum, Bette having been contracted as a facilitator to deliver volunteer emergency response training to communities across the Southern Downs community.

SDRC youth development officer Hailey Cosh was also part of the presentation team, and Lynn Stuart spoke on SDRC-funded Grief, Loss and Trauma and Mental Health First Aid workshops she was conducting in the region.

The Allora district suffered from flooding in 2010, 2011 and early this year, causing significant damage throughout the local area.

The Community Recovery Forums have been conducted by the Southern Downs Regional Council courtesy of government funding in towns throughout the region, in an effort to educate people about risk and response in each of the areas, with a view to improving response.

The question was asked of the Allora district community, "Do you have any ideas about how we can prepare as an individual, a neighbourhood or community to reduce the property damage and psychological harm caused through experiencing a disaster in our community?"

While numbers attending the Allora forum weren't as high as hoped, those who were able to be there offered valuable information as to how Allora could be better served in a future emergency event.

Allora Show Society president Shirley Cornhill and committee member Ted Cowley recalled the flooding effects on the Show Society's infrastructure, but also the overwhelming community response to repairing the damage.

Christine Gleeson shared how her family hosted many travellers trapped by flooding and related issues, while Merv Wilson outlined his situation during and since the floods, evidence of ongoing flood-created issues.

Allora RSL president Jim Corby highlighted the Allora community's ability to "rise to the occasion" in emergency and challenging circumstances, the town's response evidence of that during the flooding episodes of recent years.

Matters also discussed included how the flood situations affected the district, areas most at risk, catering for community needs in a flood event, the immediate response to any event and evacuation considerations including temporary accommodation.

Allora was asked to consider questions, such as what are the burning issues for you since this flood event? How can the Allora district improve what we do in response to an emergency event? and who needs to be involved in making things happen to achieve a response?

Information provided by the forum attendees addressed those questions and have contributed to a framework that will see a suitable initial emergency response plan developed for Allora and its district.

A response plan, especially for the early stages of an emergency situation, is vital for a small community that becomes isolated and has no organisation such as a State Emergency Service branch to deal with and co-ordinate initial response to any event.

Information gathered at the Allora Community Forum will be collated and circulated to those who attended for further consideration and input so as to formulate a future effective response plan, in co-operation with existing local emergency agencies such as the police and the Fire and Rescue Service as well as Southern Downs Regional Council (Disaster Management Plan).

Ann Balmain returns to Rotary helm

Ann Balmain was inducted as president of the Rotary Club of Allora at the clubs 47th Induction of President & Officers on Monday evening at Allora's Railway Hotel. Ann is no stranger to the role, have also presided over the hard working and respected Allora community group in both 2006 and 2007.

Immediate past president Norm Tranberg moves into the secretary role, Andrew Westerman continues as treasurer and Graham Hoey (The Rotary Foundation), Barrie Geitz (community service) and Bill Lester (membership) are club directors