A grant from AusNet’s Energy Resilience Community Fund has helped the Towong Memorial Hall operate as an energy resilience and emergency hub during the January bushfires.
A $31,000 grant from AusNet funded a new 20kVA generator, allowing the hall to remain open and provide a safe, powered space for the local community.
Towong Memorial Hall Treasurer Sharyn Nankervis said the hall became the heart of the response as fires threatened the region.
“Our hall was the only community building and central meeting place for more than 200 local residents and campers.”
“People were scared after what they’d experienced in previous fires. Being able to come here, to cook, shower, charge phones and laptops and escape the heat with air conditioning, made a huge difference. It really was the place to be,” Ms Nankervis said.
The generator enabled people to stay connected, support coordination efforts and keep essential community services running during the prolonged outage.
AusNet Energy Resilience Community Fund Manager Kim Sullivan said the Fund was established after the February 2024 storms to help communities better prepare for emergencies and long duration power outages.
“Since launching the Fund, AusNet has supported almost 100 energy resilience and education projects, including more than 60 community energy hubs that provide power, connection and critical services during extreme weather,” Ms Sullivan said.
Since its establishment more than two years ago, AusNet’s $12 million Energy Resilience Community Fund has delivered $8.3 million in grants and donations across AusNet’s electricity distribution network.
“Reliable energy is essential to keeping communities safe and connected, especially during extreme weather events,” Ms Sullivan said.
Applications for the final round of the Energy Resilience Community Fund close at 5pm on Friday 19 June 2026. More information is available at www.ausnetservices.com.au/ercf.