The Upper Yango Valley is on the eastern boundary of Yengo National Park, near Wollombi. It is occupied by 22 private landholdings on the traditional land of the Darkinjung people. Its rich meadows were important pathways to culturally significant sites at Big Yengo, the Finchley petroglyphs and the initiation site to the south. In December 2019, at the height of Black Summer, Upper Yango was heavily impacted by the devastating Gospers Mountain and Little L bushfires. Following the fires came flooding which caused serious damage to Yango Creek.
The community got together to form the Upper Yango Landholders Association (UYLA) to aid recovery from the fires and floods and prepare for future events. They also developed innovative projects to repair and strengthen both the natural environment and community connections. North Sullivan and his family have been property owners in Upper Yango for thirty years. North has been instrumental in bringing the community together to support the landscape recovery and improve preparedness for future emergencies. They are currently working on initiatives to spread the word to other communities to help them build their own local resilience.
“Many people enjoying rural serenity prefer to be left alone, believing they can manage things on their own. That’s until something doesn’t go to plan. Problems big and small, are easier to deal with when you’re part of a neighbourhood community.” (UYLA website, 2025.)
A key part of community resilience has been building positive neighbourly connections. Whether you are a new or established property-owner, living on the land part-time or full-time, working co-operatively on shared land management issues such as catchment health and weed management can reap mutual benefits. Neighbours can keep an eye on each other’s place across the fence, share skills and borrow or co-own resources to reduce costs. If we build these networks in good times, along with systems to respond to disasters, we are ready to help each other through the bad.
“The most valuable assets in an emergency are your neighbours,” says North. “You don’t have to be friends, but don’t wait for an emergency to learn that we need each other.”
Fire is big concern for all, whatever your background, income or personal values. This shared concern has been a connector for the Upper Yango community. As well as learning about local fire risks and their management, there have been knock-on benefits of knowing your neighbours, from fixing equipment together to feeling more belonging in the valley.
Three components have started this journey of resilience-building. Good communication is the key to them all. Firstly, after the fires, North set up a WhatsApp group and invited the 22 landholders in the valley to join, which they did. Later, a separate WhatsApp group was created for lighter communications, such as recipe-sharing and BBQ invites, which has also built positive and more enjoyable neighbourly connections.
Secondly, during the fires there was no communication. The ‘phones were out. There was no satellite internet and no radio network.
Handheld 5-watt UHF radios typically require a line-of-sight transmission which is challenging to achieve in Upper Yango’s rugged landscape of spurs, gullies and valley arms. A UHF radio network has significantly improved coverage. Families in the valley can now keep in touch with their immediate circle of neighbours. It is a comfort to know they can share key information with each other during floods and power outages as well as potential bushfires. This is a change that could save lives. Simon Geraghty of UYLA and Wollombi Landcare, explains the UHF Radio Communications system the Upper Yango community have set up: UHF Radios Save Lives on Vimeo
The third part of building stronger connectivity within the community is that the 22 neighbours of the broader “hood” get together at least once a year for a social meal and some fun. Neighbourly support has helped with the emotional and mental stress of fire-fighting, dealing with floods, adversity and uncertainties.
The UYLA would like other communities to be able to learn from their journey. A raft of information about community resilience and landscape repair can be found on their website: https://www.upperyango.com.au/ . You can get in touch with them through their website or contact North Sullivan, President of UYLA at northsullivan@gmail.com.