The centre jointly won the NSW Get Ready Award for their “Reflections of Resilience” project, launched on the first anniversary of the devastating 2015 flood where residents were photographed with giant words reflecting their idea of the local community.

Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen said the 2017 NSW Get Ready Community Award and the Resilient Australia Awards showcase important disaster preparedness initiatives that often go unseen. 

“The project highlighted the town’s enduring strength and values and brought people together to reflect and connect,” he said.

“The Dungog Shire Community Centre led an important conversation reflecting on how our local community was healing and how members were supporting one another to recover.

“Importantly our community members were able to share their stories and I think that photography was an inspired choice to tell their stories as it is a powerful medium to express emotion.”

The award was accepted in Parliament House last week by Sarah U’Brien, manager of the Dungog Shire Community Centre, Bob Humphrey representing Dungog Rotary, Kim Wright representing Dungog Lions and Kris O’Sullivan, a Dungog resident who took many of the photographs.

"Our community showed its true resilience in our response and recovery from the weather events of April 2015,” said Ms U’Brien.

“In the days, months after we pulled together, supported each other and ensured that everyone was cared for and helped. As the anniversary loomed, many were feeling anxious, however by reflecting on our strengths, capacity and our tenacity we were able to re-define our experience and focus on the love, the friendships and the care that was shown by so many. The award recognises the many, many, many people in our community who gave so much . It highlights what an amazing, strong and compassionate town we have.”