General News
13 January, 2026
'Tell us what you need': mayor calls for fire-affected to register
Horsham Rural City Council mayor Brian Klowss has urged people impacted by the Natimuk fire on Friday, January 9, to register with the council at the Relief Centre in Horsham or with the council.
He also encouraged people to seek mental health support.
"We need people to tell us what they need so that we can facilitate these needs," he said.
Cr Klowss was sitting at his kitchen table at his Natimuk property on Friday, checking his emails, when the Grass Flat alert came through.
"I looked out the window, and while I could see the smoke," he said.
"It still looked a fair way off, but I decided to make sure my youngest daughter who was home with me left the property, and as my son arrived a few minutes later we could see the fire and with in 10 minutes it was on us.
"It travelled from about 13 kilometres away to five in a matter of minutes."
Cr Klowss said the fire appeared to have a fairly small front until it reached his property, but it fanned out considerably after that.
While he lost 90 per cent of his farm, including shearing sheds, crops, and infrastructure, he considered himself fortunate, as the family home was spared and he had no stock loss.
"I am just one of many who have suffered, and my focus is on the community and the recovery," he said on Saturday, less than 24 hours later.
Cr Klowss had high praise for the team on the ground who were working under catastrophic conditions.
"The fire was travelling at a speed I have not seen before, except during the Little Desert Fire last year.
"That's all I can compare it to; I am just so glad that there were no lives lost."
Cr Klowss said he was focused on the recovery process and urged everyone impacted to register at the relief centres or call the HRCC office.
Staff will provide them with the relevant contact information.
He also urged people to register with Grampians Community Health or any of the available help lines for mental health support.
"Please ask for help if you need it; the help is there, but we need you to ask, to let us know what you need," he said.
"Please be assured we will work with you to connect you with the relevant services so you are not alone."
HRCC chief executive Gail Gatt said the council would be an agency to connect people to the services already in place, but encouraged people to reach out to the council for any help they need.
A disaster relief hub will be set up in Natimuk as soon as authorities say it is safe to do so.
This will provide services on-site for people to access once they return to Natimuk and the surrounding towns.
"The meetings scheduled for Natimuk and Quantong on Saturday were cancelled due to safety reasons, but a small number gathered," Cr Klowss said.
"Tears were shed, and I'm sure there will be many more."
A community meeting was held in Horsham on Saturday afternoon.
"Power, phone, internet, and water are a priority, and I have been in touch with the Premier's office for assistance with NBN; the relevant companies are working to repair and reconnect these services as soon as possible," he said.
HRCC arranged mobile internet service in Natimuk in the meantime.
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