Rocking Rochester is gearing up to put on the concert of a lifetime, with local sporting and community clubs joining forces to plan a show that reunites the community in strength and solidarity.
Rochella will honour the brave community that has shown such resilience since the wake of the October 2022 floods that left more than 90 per cent of homes uninhabitable.
The family-friendly festival will be held on the anniversary of the heart-wrenching wild weather event on Saturday, October 14.
The concert comes after Music Victoria, with the support of Creative Victoria, announced the launch of its Live Music for Recovery Program to assist flood-affected towns by reviving their spirit through a series of live music gigs.
The brave community of Rochester will play host to one of 30 spectacular events. While the star-studded bill is still yet to be announced, Rochester Recreation Reserve has been confirmed as the venue.
Rochester Community House flood recovery co-ordinator Tanya McDermott said Rochester was in need of a positive and unforgettable event like this.
“There’s no doubt that something positive to look forward to is very much needed,” Ms McDermott said.
“The level of support that Music Victoria has been able to provide will ensure that it’s a really memorable event.
“It will be a great pick-me-up for the community.”
Rochella is not classified as a fundraiser. Any proceeds from the event will be allocated to community groups and clubs.
It remains unclear whether the community concert will be a free or paid event.
Ms McDermott said the concert was less about driving tourism and more about providing a space for the community to come together and show its strength.
“This is about bringing local people together so they can connect, spend time with each other and put the ills of the previous year behind them for a little while and just enjoy the good things in life,” she said.
A host of live music events will be delivered across Victoria this spring, with shows planned for Baringhup, Boort, Bridgewater, Euroa, Horsham, Kerang, Mildura, Mooroopna, Newbridge, Pyramid Hill, the Pyrenees, Seymour, Strathfieldsaye and Tallarook.