That's the message from National Bushfire Recovery Agency deputy coordinator Major General Andrew Hocking.

MAJGEN Hocking was in Nowra and Ulladlla on Friday morning before heading to Batemans Bay later in the afternoon to talk to recovery coordinators, local leaders, community representatives and victims.

Despite all the uncertainty in the world with the coronavirus, one thing is for certain according to the Major General "the bushfire recovery was continuing".

"That's the key message I want to get out, coronavirus or no coronavirus the recovery is going to continue," he said.

"We can't let coronavirus or anything else get in the way.

"We might have to adapt the way we do things, and as a nation we will need to bring out all our qualities, our adaptiveness and continue to conduct the recovery but do it in new innovative ways.

"From my personal experience I have been able to engage with as many people this week as I was able to last week.

"I just have to do it in different ways. And while that adds some difficulty sometimes other ways offer other benefits.

"One thing is for sure, coronavirus will not get in the way of the recovery efforts, it will simply force us to adapt and we will continue on."

MAJGEN Hocking said the aim of his visit to the South Coast was "to talk to people and businesses, to listen and to understand how the recovery is going".

"To make sure the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, in partnership with the states and the private sector and philanthropists and importantly the local community, that we are there to support people's needs," he said.

"We have people from the National Bushfire Recovery Agency located in recovery hubs at Ulladulla and Batemans Bay and they are in regular and constant contact with local leaders on what's happening.

"And the support and leadership from the local and state authorities has been fantastic."

The MAJGEN has traveled to numerous bushfire ravaged areas in his role and witnessed first-hand some tragic scenes, but is sure Australia will evolve from this tragedy a stronger and better nation.

"While I've seen that tragedy like everyone in Australia, history shows from these terrible things can come some great triumphs," he said.

"Every day I've seen and met people who are overcoming these difficult times.

"The way people, the community, is coming together, the coming together across the sectors, the coming together of the state and federal governments.

"I'm seeing more of that every day.

"And as we mobilise the recovery in partnership together, as we listen to local people, understand the local issues, it allows us to understand what the needs are.

"And in the typical Australian way we adapt - we adapt policies, we adapt and refine the way we do things to make sure people are getting better and getting the help they need.

"Despite coronavirus the momentum of the recovery and the clean up process continues. And we will continue to see that momentum build as the days, weeks and months progress."

He admitted he was "amazed but not surprised" by the way Australians "keep going".

"That's what Australians do," he said.

"It's what our forebears did, their sacrifices, it's just the way we are.

"Underneath the surface of that national character is a deepened, dogged determination. Deep respect and mateship.

"How the community has come together to support each other on all different levels has amazed me but not surprised me.

"It goes way back to Gallipoli and before and they are the qualities and characteristics the nation needs to draw on every day.

"I know this for sure, the people of Australia will not only recover from this but will be better for it. Our children's children will be less impacted by disaster, be better prepared for disasters and come closer together as a community.

"I'm seeing a nation of people who respect each other, are willing to make sacrifices for each other and compromises for each other in the greater interest of the community and the nation as whole.

"We can turn it into triumph out of this tragedy."

He said one key thing the National Bushfire Recovery Agency had done over the past couple of weeks was to streamline the access of support.

"People have been telling us accessing some of the support was too complex," he said.

"It was too restricted. You had to be directly impacted by flames to access support

"We have heard of many businesses out there that have been indirectly affected by fires.

"We have adapted and relaunched support for small business and I urge them to look at our $10,000 grants which are available and our concessional loans up to $500,000.

"We have made them easier to access to support small business and we have also placed financial advisers in recovery centres to provide the right advice and to help with decision making."

His final message was a plea for people to be brave and ask for help, especially on the mental health front.

"These are challenging times in Australia," he said. "We have bushfires, drought, floods and now the coronavirus.

"Mental health is a big issue. We all know of Australians' courage. And there has never been a greater time when people need courage.

"The courage to reach out to mates when you or they need help. Reach out, get the help you need. That takes courage and is not something we as a nation have been good at.

"I was speaking to a couple of farmers the other day at Grafton. I was inspired by their courage. They had each reached out, and not only did that help themselves and their families but the community as a whole.

"I encourage everyone to get help where you need it.

"It's time to show that courage now, in this time, these days, these months and years ahead."