Conjola Memorial Project

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Conjola Memorial Working Group - Expression of Interest

Background

The Conjola community has shown remarkable resilience and unity in the aftermath of the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. To honour this spirit and to recognise and remember the significant impact of the fires on the community, Shoalhaven City Council is pleased to commence a process to establish a memorial in the Conjola area.

Process

In May 2024, Council endorsed that a process commence to establish a memorial in the Conjola area. The endorsed process for this project is built on a foundation of best practice and expert consultations, including with the Australian Red Cross and an independent disaster recovery specialist. Shoalhaven City Council staff have also consulted with councils in Victoria who responded to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, learning from their experiences in community-led recovery and memorial projects.

Aims and Objectives

  • Honour, recognise and remember the experiences and resilience of the Conjola and greater Shoalhaven community during and after the Black Summer bushfires.
  • Engage the community in a transparent and inclusive process to determine the support for, location and design of the memorial.
  • Establish a representative Working Group to guide the project through its various stages, ensuring it reflects the community's needs.
  • Create a meaningful and sustainable memorial that serves as a place of reflection and remembrance for residents and visitors alike.

Download the Conjola Memorial Project fact sheet click here

Conjola Memorial Working Group - Expression of Interest

Background

The Conjola community has shown remarkable resilience and unity in the aftermath of the devastating 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. To honour this spirit and to recognise and remember the significant impact of the fires on the community, Shoalhaven City Council is pleased to commence a process to establish a memorial in the Conjola area.

Process

In May 2024, Council endorsed that a process commence to establish a memorial in the Conjola area. The endorsed process for this project is built on a foundation of best practice and expert consultations, including with the Australian Red Cross and an independent disaster recovery specialist. Shoalhaven City Council staff have also consulted with councils in Victoria who responded to the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, learning from their experiences in community-led recovery and memorial projects.

Aims and Objectives

  • Honour, recognise and remember the experiences and resilience of the Conjola and greater Shoalhaven community during and after the Black Summer bushfires.
  • Engage the community in a transparent and inclusive process to determine the support for, location and design of the memorial.
  • Establish a representative Working Group to guide the project through its various stages, ensuring it reflects the community's needs.
  • Create a meaningful and sustainable memorial that serves as a place of reflection and remembrance for residents and visitors alike.

Download the Conjola Memorial Project fact sheet click here

  • Conjola Memorial project paused indefinitely

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    Earlier this year Council asked members from the Conjola community to help establish a working group that would create a meaningful memorial to commemorate the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20. The project’s objective was to attract a broad cross-section of interested community members that would bring the skills, experience and connection to community necessary to make this project a success.

    Unfortunately, there was not enough interest from the community to move forward at this time, leading the project to be postponed indefinitely. A minimum of 7 submissions was required. The total submissions received was 3.

    The submissions we did received were of a high-standard and we sincerely thank those who did apply.

    Council remains committed to this initiative and hopes to revisit the formation of a working group when there is more interest from the community.

  • Community Information Session

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    An information session on the Conjola Memorial project was held at the Lake Conjola Community Centre on Wednesday, 12 February at 5.00pm.

    Thank you to those who attended and provided their feedback on the process undertaken to date.

  • Conjola Memorial Project - Update

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    The time period to lodge an Expressions of Interest to be part of the Working Group has now closed and we thank the community members for their interest in this project.

    Next Steps:

    • Review the submissions received by individuals who expressed their interest in being part of the Conjola Memorial Working Group.
    • Convene the selection panel.
    • Advise the individuals who made submissions.
    • Review project commencement activities in line with EOI outcomes.
Page last updated: 28 May 2025, 12:34 PM