STRENGTH: Jemima Richards spoke about the resilience of women coming together to help their communities after the Black Saturday bushfires in February 2009 at this year’s Kerferd Oration.

MORE than 200 people heard from one of the survivors of the Kinglake bushfire at this year’s Kerferd Oration at Beechworth’s La Trobe University on Sunday.

Recovering from gall bladder surgery, the event’s scheduled orator, Christine Nixon, was unable to attend.

Taking on the prestigious role was Jemima Richards, who is part of a support group called Firefoxes - women who banded together to help families impacted by the devastating fires.

Ms Richards was working an hour away from Kinglake when the Black Saturday bushfire hit.

Her husband rang her to tell her to stay away and for many hours after that phone call she had no idea if her husband was alive or if their home had been destroyed.

She managed to get through the barricades and back into Kinglake by hiding under a blanket in an off duty policeman’s car.

She found more than 50 people sheltering in her home, which had survived the fire - so too had her husband.

Ms Richards’ story of the community coming together to support those who had suffered loss during the fire brought tears to many at the oration.

She said the destruction of the fires revealed the true strength of the community and urged people in small communities to create connections with others, form support groups and stay in touch.

MC for the oration, Bruarong resident, Heather Hillas, read a message from Ms Nixon, at the start of the oration.

"Jemima Richards is a woman with great energy and courage," the letter read.

"They work across the Kinglake ranges but their efforts and their spirit have touched women and families right across bushfire affected areas in Victoria."

She said the Firefoxes story showed "what communities are capable of given the right circumstances, the right opportunities and the right encouragement".

There had been some controversy over the decision to have Ms Nixon as the speaker at the 2010 Kerferd Oration after it was revealed she had gone out to dinner with friends on Black Saturday.

But the great gandson of George Briscoe Kerferd, Ian Young, said he believed his ancestor would have approved of Ms Nixon as orator.

He said Ms Nixon and his great grandfather, a former Premier of Victoria, shared a history of community service.