Governor of Victoria visits fire-impacted communities in Murrindindi
Published on 05 March 2026
Murrindindi Shire Council was honoured to host Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner, Governor of Victoria, for a two-day visit across fire-impacted communities in Murrindindi Shire.
Over Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February, the Governor visited Highlands, Yarck and Fawcett, meeting with residents, volunteers, emergency services representatives and Council leaders to hear firsthand about the impacts of the January 2026 fires and the ongoing recovery effort.
Murrindindi was the hardest hit community in Victoria in the January 2026 fires. Approximately 144,000 hectares burned in the Longwood fire, with more than 190 homes destroyed within Murrindindi Shire alone, alongside widespread disruption to daily life, livelihoods and wellbeing for many residents who remain deeply affected, on top of the lasting impacts of the 2009 bushfires and 2022 floods.
The consequences span people, economy and infrastructure. Approximately 450 kilometres of roads and dozens of bridges and culverts were impacted, major tourism assets were lost, and there has been significant agricultural and wildlife harm. For many in our community, recovery is about far more than rebuilding property, it is about restoring connection, security and a sense of place.
During her time in Murrindindi, the Governor visited Highlands Community Hall, Yarck Hall and Fawcett Hall, where she listened to residents share their lived experiences and the challenges of recovery, and met with volunteers leading community-led relief hubs. Conversations highlighted the strength of grassroots coordination, the care being shown to neighbours in times of need, and both the resilience of these small communities and the ongoing support still required.
Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher said the opportunity for residents to speak directly with the Governor was highly valued.
“This visit was about our community, about listening to people who have experienced profound loss and disruption and recognising the extraordinary volunteers who have stepped forward to support others,” Cr Gallagher said.
“The scale, complexity and cumulative nature of these impacts exceed local capacity. Our community cannot recover alone. Strong, coordinated and sustained partnerships with the State and Federal Governments are essential to meet immediate recovery needs and to build long term protection against increasing climate-driven risks.”
During the visit, Mayor Cr Gallagher provided the Governor with Council’s January 2026 Bushfire Advocacy Priorities, outlining key community needs, recovery pathways and policy reforms required to restore critical infrastructure, support local economies, improve emergency management and secure a resilient future for our shire.
The Governor was also accompanied by Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Tim Wiebusch on Thursday and Deputy Commissioner Therese Fitzgerald on Friday. Council thanked Commissioner Wiebusch for his direct support during the emergency response and confirmed that Council’s Bushfire Advocacy Priorities were provided to the Commissioner and Emergency Recovery Victoria to help shape coordinated recovery planning and implementation.
Council extends its sincere thanks to Her Excellency for her compassion, respect and commitment to hearing directly from our communities. The visit also provided an opportunity to reflect on the strong collaboration between Murrindindi, neighbouring councils and key partners, highlighting a coordinated and collective approach to response and recovery. Council further acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of local volunteers whose care, leadership and community spirit continue to play a vital role in strengthening communities as recovery progresses.
More information on Council’s advocacy priorities is available at:
https://www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/Council/Advocacy-and-Partnerships/January-2026-Bushfire-Advocacy-Priorities