This time 12 months ago the Stawell Times-News was reporting on the devastating bushfires that occurred on the back of a week of oppressive heat.

It is easy to forget now, especially given the mild spell we're currently in, but at that time Stawell endured four straight days of temperatures above 40 degrees celsius.

As a result a significant natural disaster developed, not just in our backyard (Grampians), but also on our doorstep (Black Range).

Bushfires that raged in the Grampians and Black Range impacted communities, properties, livelihoods and our natural environment.

Now, a year on the recovery process has been swift and sensitive to the needs of all those affected.

Vital infrastructure and assets have been repaired and there is a sense that as a region we are better prepared now, than we ever were before.

The irony of all this is that one year on we report that Stawell this week experienced its biggest two-day rainfall in almost two years.

Residents awoke to a very welcome torrential downpour on Tuesday morning, which dumped 27 millimetres in three hours.

After enduring its fifth driest year in recorded history in 2014, Stawell has received almost a quarter of all rainfall last year within just the first 15 days of 2015.

We've witnessed floods and fires before, especially over the last decade and there's no doubt we'll witness them again.

The most important thing is that communities and individuals become more resilient and the speed at which Halls Gap and the Grampians has recovered from last year's fires is real evidence that they have.