The Natural Disaster Relief Fund served as a collection point for individuals and institutions from across the country to donate to the town. The account now holds more than $110,000.

Residents must lodge applications and be assessed before they are able to access the funding. Applications are still being accepted.

Community Centre manager Sarah U’Brien said people were rebuilding their lives at different paces so funds would remain available when needed. Even if that meant holding them long term.

“Getting the timing right [to release funds] has been important and we’ve kept our timing individual for people,” she said.

“[Funds have] been utilised for a wide range of things, practical things like washing baskets or tea towels, little things you don’t know you need.

“But it’s also used for big things like hiring tradesmen, building materials, fridges, washing machines and beds.”

Mrs U’Brien said people who had not applied or did not need funds right away would not be disadvantaged.

“We had people worried that they might miss out if they didn’t apply so we introduced an intention to claim in case the don’t need money now, but will in the future,” she said.

“There’s no need to worry about missing out because the money will be held in reserve.”

The Community Centre is also working in partnership with service clubs including The Lions and Rotary to utilise their support networks and funds.

The team from the Community Centre recently met with their counterparts in the Blue Mountains who are now two years on from their disastrous fires.

Mrs U’Brien said that although the communities and disasters vary greatly, the recovery will be similar.

“About six or seven months on, they told us, is the hardest time in the recovery,” she said.

“It’s a slump because you don’t feel normal still, normal feels foreign.

“The distance gives time to reflect but it still feels like it was only yesterday.”

The community centre is continuing to use develop utilise and project Bounce Forward which was launched in July. The program has helped Dungog residents connect with appropriate support networks and provided emotional first aid kits and welcome home packs to promote individual wellbeing.

They continue to look to the Blue Mountains recovery for long-term guidance.

“Down there they’ve shifted to a human recovery focus,” Mrs U’Brien said.

“That means that just because your home is fixed, you might not be.

“Rebuilding a person is not like a building.”

Mrs U’Brien said the community is resilient and she is confident it is on track for a recovery, though it may take years.

“Our society understands death and grief but we don’t often recognise that, after natural disasters, people respond similarly,” she said.

“We’re actively trying to give people permission to be sad, angry frustrated right now.

“But also permission to laugh, to find hope and joy.

“We will bounce forward, we will be stronger and more united.”