Summer Feast was a Mirboo North community event held beside the pool and Baths Road Reserve, bringing locals together two years after the February 2024 storm.
A Gathering in the Heart of Recovery
The location of the Summer Feast was right at the heart of the town. While not a spot commonly used for community gatherings, it was specifically chosen because it was this area and surrounding streets and homes which were hardest hit by the super cell storm that smashed Mirboo North two years ago. A quiet but powerful symbol of what our community has carried – and how we continue to rebuild, together.
Picnic blankets were spread out and hay bales dotted the grass on the hill above the musician entertaining the crowd with guitar and song; the reserve and the swimming pool in the background. ‘A natural amphitheatre, why don’t we use this more often’ people said.
Alongside the feast, the Friends of the Pool hosted a family day with free entry to our iconic Mirboo North Swimming Pool, offering kids’ entertainment and plenty of splashing and laughter.
Families queued at food trucks, friends caught up over dinner, and children ran between the reserve and the pool. The atmosphere was relaxed and joyful — a gentle celebration of resilience, connection and place.
Regeneration, Reflection and Community Spirit
For those wanting to reflect more deeply on the landscape itself, Biodiversity Officer Chris Rankin led a guided walk through Baths Road Reserve. Sharing his knowledge of the plants and animals that call the reserve home, Chris spoke about the work that had been done and the regeneration now gaining momentum.
As the evening light dappled through the trees, walkers paused to listen — not only to the stories of regeneration, but to the unmistakable sound of two owls calling to one another overhead. It was a poignant moment. Two years on from the storm, the reserve continues to heal — and so does the community.
The Summer Feast was not just an event. It was a testament to Mirboo North’s spirit: resilient, generous and deeply connected to place. In gathering where the storm once tore through, we focused on what remains strongest of all — each other.
Summer Feast was organised by the Community Foundation and MCDI, with funding from the Mirboo North Community Recovery Fund. Thanks to the Friends of the Pool for holding their family day on the night, to South Gippsland Shire for holding the guided walk and everyone else who helped pull the event together.