Standing With Harcourt: When Community Needs Community

A simple email notification landed in our inbox — a thank you from GoFundMe for a donation to the Harcourt Progress Relief Fund. Behind that short message sits something far bigger: a community hurting, rebuilding, and relying on the strength of those around it.

MRSG’s mission is to foster an active, social, equitable, and environmentally sustainable community in the Macedon Ranges. Much of our work focuses on education, prevention, and long-term change. But sometimes, community means stepping forward in moments of urgent need.

The devastating Harcourt bushfires of 9 January 2026 were one of those moments.

In a matter of minutes, fire tore through Harcourt and the surrounding areas, destroying homes, properties, livelihoods, and treasured parts of a close-knit town. Families lost not just buildings and businesses, but a sense of safety and certainty. While emergency services worked tirelessly to protect lives, the road ahead for many residents will be long and arduous.

When the call for help came, familiar faces from across our region answered. Well-known MRSG community members, alongside Woodend Community Farmers’ Market stallholders, rallied quickly to raise funds for Harcourt. An extraordinary fundraising event at The Vic in Woodend, featuring donated items and auctions, raised close to $50,000 in a single night — a powerful demonstration of what’s possible when people come together.

MRSG was proud to support this effort with a $1,000 donation, and we encourage our community to donate as much or as little as they can.

How You Can Help

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference. By donating to or sharing this fundraiser, you are standing alongside Harcourt through a trusted, local organisation committed to transparency and community care.

👉 Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/harcourt-progress-relief-fund

MRSG hopes to see Harcourt residents — including our valued market stallholders — back on their feet soon, personally and in business, once again trading with and enriching the wider Macedon Ranges community.

Together, we can help Harcourt recover, rebuild, and move forward with hope. That is community in action.

#HarcourtStrong #HarcourtProgressReliefFund