The Marysville and Triangle Community Foundation was formed to continue the recovery process after Australia’s worst natural disaster, the 2009 bushfires.

The establishment of the community foundation has been aided significantly by funds from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund (VBAF). VBAF raised $401 million, including interest, with about 80% of this allocated to individuals and families. The remaining funds were assigned directly to community recovery projects.

In order to allocate the remaining funds, the VBAF established a Community Advisory Committee made up of representatives of the bushfire affected areas. Community groups and individuals from the Marysville and Triangle areas were invited to put forward proposals for the use of this money. A public meeting organized by the Marysville and Triangle Community Advisory Committee representatives was held in Marysville in July 2011. Community members presented a number of initiatives, with a large majority supporting the establishment of a community foundation aimed to provide continued assistance to the rebuilding and recovery.

Since that time, the Marysville and Triangle communities have formed the Marysville and Triangle Community Foundation which is now a registered community foundation.

The foundation has been granted $1million from the VBAF to provide benefits, not just for Marysville and surrounding communities, but for the wider Murrindindi Shire area by delivering services, making grants and undertaking community leadership and partnership activities.

Three inaugural board members commenced the process of establishing the foundation in November 2012. Recruitment for new board members started in January 2013 and an information session was held in April 2013. The new team of board members met in June and then held a strategic planning session in July 2013 to develop a strategic approach to its formation, governance fundraising and granting roles.

The Executive Officer role commenced on 4 February 2014.

The board will look to establish other trusts for the long term benefit of the community.