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A Star News Group Publication
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The Block was a sanctuary for Shaun, his family and his siblings. It now sits in ruins.
Meat Inn Place’s John has been running donated items up to firefighters in Alexandra and beyond. (Supplied)
Locals answer call By Mikayla van Loon The devastating Longwood fires that swept through Victoria’s Highlands on Friday January 9 have left behind a trail of destruction, but they have also ignited a powerful wave of community resilience and generosity. For one Lilydale family, the blaze marked the end of a 26-year era at “The Block,” a beloved bushland sanctuary in the Highlands. Purchased by Montrose grandparents, known as Nan and Pa, the property served as a multigenerational retreat where siblings, children, and over a hundred friends gathered to ride motorbikes, fish, and connect with nature. While the
fire “targeted anything man-made,” destroying five cabins, a camp kitchen, and storage sheds, the family’s spirit remains intact. Shaun Jacobs, who grew up visiting the property, described the aftermath as resembling a “war zone.” However, amidst the charred remains, signs of hope emerged: Nan’s “Covid garden” and her fruit trees miraculously survived. This resilience was mirrored by the family’s younger generation; Shaun’s daughter, Charlotte, launched a GoFundMe page that far exceeded its $500 goal, raising over $10,000 in just four days to assist with the massive cleanup and eventual rebuild.
Parallel to the Jacobs family’s story is a massive grassroots relief effort led by Lilydale business owners Jacinta and John of Meat Inn Place. What began as a plan to cook breakfast for firefighters rapidly evolved into a regional logistics hub after a single social media post reached 150,000 people. Within a week, the butcher shop became a central drop-off point, delivering 700 slabs of water, 1000 bread rolls, and thousands of dollars in medical and fencing supplies to fire-affected communities and relief centres. The relief effort has seen local businesses like Baker’s Delight and The Fine Food Merchant join
forces to ensure volunteers and displaced residents are fed and supported. As the immediate threat of the fire subsides, the focus has shifted to long-term recovery, with the community now pivoting toward donating fencing materials and fuel vouchers to help farmers and landowners rebuild. “Fires can take your property... but it can’t take the memories,” Shaun Jacobs said. It is this sentiment, backed by the overwhelming support of both strangers and neighbours, that is defining the recovery in the Highlands. Read more about the community effort on pages 2 to 6
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