'When the Flood Came' committee members Brad Teasdale, Yarriambiack Shire Councillor Ray Kingston and Ash Teasdale prepare for a community concert in March. Picture: SAMANTHA CAMARRI
The free 'When the Flood Came' concert on March 2 will feature four musical acts, including Russell Morris and ARIA-winning band The Audreys.
Yarriambiack Shire councillor Ray Kingston said the council received a State Government grant to host a concert commemorating the January 2011 floods and recognising recovery volunteers.
Homes and businesses in the shire - including ones in Rupanyup and Warracknabeal - were among those inundated across the Wimmera.
"We are specifically aiming the event at all kinds and ages of music lovers so while the bands are from different areas, everyone should enjoy it," Cr Kingston said.
"Both Russell Morris and The Audreys would be what I see as highly respected and popular Australian acts.
"We believe we are doing a great job in catering to a wide range of musical tastes and we will be in a position to announce the other two acts very soon."
Cr Kingston said the family-friendly event would celebrate how far the community had come in the two years since the floods.
"I would think that most of the repairs have essentially been done across the shire," he said.
"There are people who have well and truly moved on from the floods and there are some who haven't.
"There is an old line about fire bringing communities together and floods tearing people apart but that could not be further from the truth.
"There were truly amazing demonstrations of co-operation and people working ridiculously hard during difficult circumstances for the greater good.
"I think it is important to recognise that this was a time of hardship for people but we certainly don't intend to dwell on that."Rupanyup man Tony Huebner said he thought the concert would be well supported by the community.
He said 'When the Flood Came' would celebrate the mateship shown by residents right across the shire during the floods.
"Everyone chipped in and helped out with sandbagging across all the towns in the shire," he said.
"We had Hopetoun fellas come down to help with sandbagging and a few of our guys went to different towns like Warracknabeal when they needed help.
"A concert will just bring the community together again and that is good for Rupanyup and the area."
The event comes after Australian country music star Adam Brand lifted the spirits of flood-affected Joel Joel residents at a concert in November.
A deluge in December 2011 destroyed livestock in the Joel Joel area and decimated farm fencing to the value of about $2.8 million, leaving some landholders with damage bills of more than $100,000.
