A group of community volunteers are organising a public forum entitled, “Beat The Heat”, to be held at St Mary’s Parish Centre on Thursday, February 5 from 5–6.30pm.
This will be a free event and everyone is welcome.
Australia is getting hotter. As the planet warms, heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer and more dangerous.
What once felt extreme, is now becoming normal. Heatwaves already cause more deaths in Australia than any other natural hazards, including bushfires. Hundreds of deaths and thousands of hospitalisations are related to people not coping with the heat.
The focus of the “Beat the Heat” forum will be to provide information to community members about the best ways to manage our increasingly hot summers. With the recent heatwave periods, it has become apparent that we all need to know how to best look after ourselves, whether we own or rent our house, whether we are young or old, whether we work indoors or outdoors, and whether we are generally healthy or have some health issues.
There will be a team of expert speakers to provide information on specific topics such as: the physical and mental impacts of extreme heat, how to keep your house cool, how to keep safe during heatwaves, tenants’ rights, as well as rights and responsibilities in the work environment and how to best look after others in need.
Information will be provided regarding community initiatives to provide safe spaces. An experienced MC will ensure that speakers adhere to timelines so that the forum will not exceed the ninety minutes overall timeline.
Many local organisations will be represented by providing information stalls and/or providing a panel speaker.
They include Red Cross, The Mental Health and Wellbeing Local, East Gippsland Shire Council, Salvation Army and East Gippsland Verge Gardens. There will be an opportunity to provide your own input and suggestions to relevant people.
Community members are encouraged to come along, enjoy a performance by a combined community choir and enjoy community-prepared light refreshments whilst also gaining some great insights into how to be more aware and better prepared for extreme heat.
