ON JANUARY 21 residents from the Murdunna/Sommers Bay area came together for a barbecue at Jackson Park to celebrate their community and what they have become and achieved in the past 10 years.
With approval of 2013 Red Cross Funding and guidance from Tasman Council and local input, Mountain Trails constructed walkways from the boat ramp along to the shop and then around the bay to opposite Grave Island.
For residents on the northern side of Murdunna, the footbridge over Sounds Rivulet was most valued as they no longer need to walk alongside highway traffic to get to the shop or bus stop.
Lions Sorell sourced monies from their bushfire relief fund to cover the shortfall for the bridge Red Cross funding also provided a half basketball court at Jackson Park and the Sommers Bay Jetty Association was able to upgrade the pedestrian pathway to their jetty, the foreshore and waterfront recreational area.
Some who came to live in the area had an immense love of yachting and another project began to be voiced and heard. Local residents worked together to source funds, initial plans were drawn and the now installed pontoons were ordered from Queensland.
Graham’s Jetty is now used by visitors and locals as vessels are tied up for small maintenance tasks and getting goods and equipment and personnel on or off. So, truly another great asset. The Rotary Club of Tasman Peninsula had supported this community over 18 months from within weeks of the 2013 fires with a fortnightly barbecue.
The suggestion was that at the end of a busy Saturday of cleaning up after the devastation, rebuilding, the “locals” and “shackies”, could come, and have a bite, while sharing stories.
This became a place of acceptance. Friendships grew and were strengthened as community members learned to support each other. During the last six months of the get-togethers, the attendees started bringing along salads or desserts and the barbecues continued on a monthly basis.
The allocation to Murdunna of donations from the January 2013 Bushfire Fund, given by so many from Australia and overseas, along with support from Tasman Council, the Rotary Club of Tasman Peninsula, Lions Sorell and other government bodies, has allowed a small country town to become a connected community. Residents now engage with each other and their surroundings, have a healthier lifestyle and are able to share it with those who visit or just pass through.