b"I hope everyone had a relaxing Easter Break.A warm welcome to our new readers - retirement village residents. You'll see we've added a Village Voice section in Home Connect featuring articles submitted by retirement village residents. We look forward to sharing information across all Uniting's residential properties.It has been a long summer and recent bushfires have reminded us how important it is to be prepared for extreme weather.There is a story later in this issue which provides key information about what to do during an emergency.There are some helpful tips on being prepared for power cuts should we see some storms this winter.On a cheerier note, it has been great to see lots of applications for community grants coming in. In upcoming newsletters, we will be publishing details about some of the ideas people have had and how they are connecting with their neighbours.The last few months have also seen us recruit more members to the team that supports our renters.You can find out a little bit about our The latest fromTenancy Team Leader, Jacinta, in this issue of Home Connect.We will introduce other key staffLouise Daniel in future newsletters.Take care, Louise Daniel Senior Manager, Housing ServicesKeeping safe during extreme weatherThe recent bushfires are a reminder of how extreme our weather is in Australia, but there's things you can do to prepare.Over summer, be bushfire safe. Leave early if conditions are severe in your area. There is some useful information on what to do during a bushfire on the Emergency Vic website including what supplies you might need and where to get information. Also download the VicEmergency app so you get alerts about what is happening in your area.Winter storms can also be extremely dangerous and disruptive. If the power goes out we all notice how dependent we are on electricity. Here's a couple of tips on how you can prepare before winter: Have alternative light available - battery operated candles and torches, are safer than candles. Make sure the BBQ gas bottle is full so you can use a barbeque to cook. Stay away from fallen powerlines. They can be live, so report them to your local power company.Power companies have some great info on preparing for storms.Tips to survive an evening without powerausnetservices.com.au/outages/tips-to-survive-an-evening-without-powerStorm safety | CitiPower & Powercorpowercor.com.au/power-outages-and-emergencies/emergency/storm-safety2 Home Connect Newsletter April 2024"