Shire of Bruce Rock wins big at WA Community Achievement Awards

The award was for the shire’s prompt work to partner with the community and address basic needs after disaster struck the small regional town.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, a devastating fire had destroyed the town’s only supermarket and hardware store. With community members and vulnerable older residents under self-isolation requirements and in quick need of basic supplies, the shire acted swiftly to rally the community and establish a temporary supermarket in the town’s Hall.

The shire worked with various volunteers and community organisations to secure the necessary equipment and infrastructure needed to operate the store, including security systems, shelving, fridges and an operating system for the check-out. The shire employed all employees of the former supermarket to operate the store, which is still in operation to this day.

Other nominees for the award include:

• Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup, for their works to revitalise the Donnybrook Railway Heritage Precinct which is a major junction of the South Western Line.
• Shire of Harvey, for their efforts in conducting a full review of their Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (2017-2022).
• Shire of Christmas Island, for their Community Service Program which provides a suite of community development programs for residents on the island.

DLGSC offers its congratulations to the Shire of Bruce Rock and to all nominees for their fantastic contributions to bettering our regional communities.