By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
MORE than 1000 people came to commemorate 10 years since the Hazelwood Mine Fire.
The team at Life After Coal hosted a Morwell Community Day on Saturday, February 17.
Taking place at Kernot Hall, where the first Mine Fire community information session was held, it was deemed a fitting venue for the event.
It was 10 years ago on February 9 that a blaze burned deep into the Hazelwood mine, causing widespread havoc as air pollutants clogged airways and the Latrobe Valley became a land of smoke and smog.
The event’s purpose was to allow the community to reconnect after disaster, reflect on memories and celebrate the region’s progress and resilience.
Attendees cited the event as a huge success that facilitated so much discussion and learning.
Doors opened at 10am and expert talks began shortly after.
The chief executive of the SEC, Chris Miller, spoke on the SEC’s role in the energy transition and the future of the Valley.
Wendy Farmer from Friends of the Earth and president of Voices of the Valley spoke on community activation and advocacy.
Gippsland Trade and Labour Council’s Anne Murphy had the microphone to speak on workers’ experience with the transition away from old forms of energy.
Latrobe Valley Authority Chief Executive, Chris Buckingham, along with environment groups, community organisations, industry leaders, health professionals and representatives of all walks of life discussed health outcomes, mine rehabilitation, future prospects and active communities.
Everything was on the table to be discussed.
There was something for everyone, with many partners and organisations with stalls ready to interact, educate and listen.
Kids came and enjoyed the myriad of family-friendly activities, including a mini safari, physical activities, games and creative arts.
The Life After Coal event prided itself on being accessible and inclusive, having AUSLAN translators with every speaker and even vegan sausages cooked up by the local Lions Club.
Passionate storytellers and filmmakers Stephanie Sabrinskas and Josie Hess from the Coal Face podcast organised the event.
Originally advertised as a movie screening for their film After The Smoke, the pair decided the Hazelwood Mine Fire anniversary needed a day to commemorate a significant turning point in the Latrobe Valley’s history.
The Coal Face podcast team consulted with the community to ensure the day was both by and for the community.
“We wanted to make the event accessible to anyone in the community because the mine fire affected everyone in the community in some way, and so we didn’t want there to be any barriers to access,” Ms Sabrinskas said.
“It’s also why we decided to make everything free and provide food and pay for all the activities and vendors and things as well, just because we wanted everyone to feel included.”
Eventgoers were positive, listening to how far Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley has progressed since the turning point that was the Hazelwood mine fire.
“Latrobe Valley and Gippsland are undergoing a transition at the moment towards renewable energy … there are a lot of people who don’t agree on where we are moving to,” Ms Sabrinskas said.
The organisers said they only wished to bring everyone together on a common ground where opinions could be shared in a safe space with resources and expert information.
“We think just bringing everyone together on a place on common ground – the common ground being we care about the home, we care about our future, we care about our families and our communities, was just the right messaging for the 10 years on from the mine fire – because that’s when we started to see a lot of changes happening in the community,” Ms Sabrinskas said.
From Hazelwood power station’s shutdown to the projected closures of Yallourn W and Loy Yang A in years to follow, from the closure of native timber harvesting to the end of white paper production at the Maryvale mill – industry in the Valley has undergone a huge change in the last decade.
Representatives from power companies and mine operators, including EnergyAustralia, AGL and Engie, were on hand to answer questions regarding mine rehabilitation and the Valley’s future away from coal.
“Everybody felt it was a very inclusive event, and it was incredible that the mind operators were there alongside grassroots and environment organisations,” Ms Sabrinskas said.
“Everyone got along … we had a lot of Q&A on the panels, and there were some little pointy questions – and everyone took it on with good faith.”
Though the day incorporated expert opinion and research, it was ultimately for the community to share their experiences.
The women at the Coal Face podcast had an oral history booth to listen to stories from locals. Though they have been researching for years, a decade on they continued to be amazed by personal accounts of the fire that ripped through the mine and suffocated a community.
Environment Victoria was one of many partners of the community day; and local representative Hayley Sestokas said it was a successful event.
“The day was amazing; it was a really authentic representation and celebration of community spirit – people attended from all walks of life, many of whom were directly impacted by the mine fire, and there was space to reflect, celebrate achievements and have some honest and fruitful conversations,” she said.
From all accounts, the community remained hopeful for the future, with so many inspiring stories shared and so much community engagement.
“The mine fire was a real moment of reckoning, and for people living in the Valley for many years, we’ve lived with the dust, the air pollution, the impacts of living next to these coalmines,” Ms Sestokas said.
“It was through the mine fire the community realised, ‘the price we pay for powering the state’, with the tragedy becoming a significant point of ignition for community activism and calls for a better future for all.”
With the event such a hit with locals, the organisers of the Hazelwood Mine Fire Community Day would like to thank their sponsors and partners for their assistance in building an event that entertained, touched and engaged so many minds.
