"It can be quite overwhelming, particularly around this time about five weeks after the fires, you really start to realise how much work there is ahead."

"It's really important for people to take the time just to regroup and make sense of what's occurred for them, and just to reconnect to the things that they like to do. Take a little bit of downtime away from the hard job of recovering," she said.

She was pleased to see the mayors of both Inverell and Armidale attend to show their support, which she said would remain vital in upcoming months.

"There will be a long period ahead where that support is crucial, and of course local government have such an important role in supporting communities after disaster."

Around 40 attended the event and enjoyed a barbecue dinner cooked by the rapid relief team. Anne was glad to see the community catch up with one another before and after the event.

"Staying connected to friends and family and neighbours at this time is really crucial," she said.