The Fire Dialogue 'Knob Reserve' - August 2026
On Saturday 22nd August 2026, we conducted a "Fire in the forest" dialogue at the Knob Reserve in Stratford
It will follow a series of field trips held across the region which will inform the dialogue and bring local perspectives to the discussion. These local field trips are planned for the 8th August in Noojee and Bairnsdale.
The intention is to build understanding between those with diverse views on the management of fire in our forests- it is not an 'advocate workshop', it is a facilitated community engagement event.
A scoping paper will be prepared to provide some context ahead of the events in August and will be updated based on feedback from the field trips, prior to the main dialogue on the 22nd August.
We will keep you updated with progress in planning for this event via this page and hopefully answer any questions you may have.
If you do have questions or suggestions, please contact eo@gippslandforestdialogue.org.au
Note that we encourage participants to attend as individuals rather than as representatives of their employer (where applicable) and applied Chatham House rules to the discussion, so nothing that is said within the group is attributable to any one individual beyond the event.
Pre dialogue dinner (informal)
Host: Chris McEvoy, President
Guest speaker: John Schauble
Cost $25, Time 6-8pm
Dialogue gathering
Co Chairs: Steve Pascoe and Ewan Waller
Cost $25 (BBQ Lunch)
10am to 4pm.
Co Chair: Steve Pascoe
Steve is passionate about community led approaches to bushfire preparedness and recovery.
He has been involved in emergency management for over 35 years, firstly volunteering with the CFA and SEC, then as a community educator in bushfire safety, as an emergency management coordinator in local government and a disaster management consultant.
In 2009, Steve's community of Strathewen was devastated by the Black Saturday bushfires. 80 of 100 houses were lost including Steve's. Steve helped initiate the Strathewen Recovery Association and supported other communities in recovery including Mallacoota
Co Chair: Ewan Waller
Ewan is a born and bred Gippslander with extensive experience in forest and fire management both at operational and Executive level.
Ewan served as Chief Fire Officer for Victoria, a board member of East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and as a board member of GLAWAC. He is a steering committee member of Gippsland Forest Dialogue, a farmer and prouc Gippslander who wants the voices of locals to be heard.
Poetry corner : Bairnsdale field trip
We travelled to Bairnsdale to talk about fire
A bunch of us
we boarded a bus
We stood in a circle in the forest
We spoke words
listened to birds
We had a picnic right there in the bush
we breathed the air
sat on a camp chair
In the forest we walked
together we talked
we each had our story
our own version of truth
Gippsland forest dialogue
beyond the debate
who's right and who's wrong
there is a forest
I'll meet you there
GFD lets talk
At the Knob
Come he said, I welcome you
to this meeting place
he played didgeridoo
and told us of his race
camp chairs circle around
our dialogue camp fire
red gums in background
a vista to inspire
words of fire are spoken
words are listened to
at lunch the bread is broken
and then we start anew
Socrates he joins our chat
in a modern guise
whilst we sit and chew fat
in search of ideas wise
the topic here is fire
amid the red gums
Fire
a natural part of forest life
a tool which we can use
a danger to our way of life
change on which to muse
but what is it all about
here at the knob reserve
is without a doubt
an opening of minds and a will
to learn from each other
each of us a forest lover
Links to reports
See links below for copies of the final report, 2 page summary, scoping document and background references
Background reading: Summary of Lindemeyer paper
Background reading: Summary of Phillip Zylstra
Background reading: Lutze fire ecology paper
Background reading: Hammond Forest structure paper
Background reading: Collins Journal Env Management
Background reading: Baker paper forest ecosystems
Background reading: Baker People and landscapes paper
Useful webpage links
We would like to thank Wellington shire for funding this community event via their community grants progam
