Today I was lucky enough to visit the Narbethong community who had come together at the Black Spur Inn to film a business success program.  My colleague, Rob Hartnett, was part of the panel and introduced me to may of the local people who were working to re-establish their businesses (many of them either recommencing operartions or struggling with the lack of visitors to the area).

As a local Yarra Valley person, I was shocked as I drove from Healesville through to Narbethong, through the famous Black Spur.  Yes, there is devastation, yes, there is extensive areas of fire affected bush lands but more importantly, there are people and communities up in this area who badly need the support of visitors to their community.

 If you are planning to go away, think about the Yarra Valley and beyond, like Narbethong.  These communities will be helped greatly by the support you provide through your tourism.  And while you're there, drop into the Buxton Trout and Salmon Farm, who after losing many of their fish, have new stocks and are open for business.

This community is making the best of the worst - they are a community coming together and supporting one another so they all get back on their feet.  In terms of a communication opportunity, they are set to integrate their communications in a way modern businesses could only hope.  Good luck to the community of Narbethong and beyond.  I am sure you will all do brilliantly.  What the world needs now is fantastic internal communications.  They are definitely on the right track.