Kate and her fiance died while trying to defend their property in the Toolangi state forest, near Kinglake.

"In every community we have people who, in the face of an extreme fire, probably wouldn't know that it was time to evacuate their properties," Mrs Hartnell said.

"These people may be elderly or disabled or perhaps don't speak much English and would not know that it was time to leave in the event of a bushfire."

Mrs Hartnell, of Mt Martha, is trying to set up Connecting our Community Friends and Neighbours, an initiative in which local community members would notify those potentially at risk via a telephone 'tree' network that a fire warning had been issued. She hopes to start a trial this summer for the Mt Martha area.

If successful, the initiative could be expanded to other areas of the peninsula to warn people of fire dangers.

"It isn't a huge commitment. Each volunteer would have the role of meeting the person they would be calling, visiting them once a month to check on their welfare and calling them in the event of a fire to let them know it was time to evacuate their properties," Mrs Hartnell said.

"It is a simple philosophy that would work like a phone tree, where each person has a few people to call."

Mt Martha residents are invited to attend a community information session on Connecting our Community Friends and Neighbours at Mt Martha Primary School on Thursday, November 24 at 6.30pm.

There will be information about the program as well as general information about bushfires.

Details: Jackie Hartnell on 5974 8511.