Relief work heats up in Alice Springs as mercury rises
Relief work heats up in Alice Springs as mercury rises
15 January 2018
Temperatures in the high 30s and mid 40s are totally normal for weeks at a time during the summer months in Alice Springs.
The locals find ways to cool off every day!
Much of Australia has, in recent weeks, sweltered through the occasional heatwave. Temperatures have ranged from the high 30s through to the mid 40s, but on each the occasion the wave of hot weather has usually only lasted a handful of days.
Spare a thought for the people of Alice Springs then, who have been experiencing weeks of heatwave temperatures.
“One day it did drop down to 34, but since before Christmas the average is between 39 and 41,” said Captain Nari McGifford, Alice Springs Corps Officer. “By 8.30am, it’s already 35.
“For us, though, this is not extreme. It’s normal.”
During these hot summer months, many people from Alice Springs’ population of 30,000 head “down south” or to coastal areas for their holidays. A large number of services and businesses close, particularly over the Christmas period and well into January.
“There is an increased number of people coming into town from outlying communities who have not necessarily planned how they will live, and there are some tourists around as well,” explained Captain McGifford.
“This all means less services available to assist people at a time of increased need.”
The small Salvation Army team has been at capacity since before Christmas, and continues to fill the large gaps in services as needs grow.
“For example, we were expecting about 180 people for Christmas Day lunch, and we got 250,” said Captain McGifford.
Captains Nari and Stuart McGifford.
“Fortunately, we were able to get additional chicken and chips from the local IGA, which had assisted us with catering on the day, and then we used whatever else we could find on-site.
“We have had to bring in extra casual staff for The Waterhole Community Drop-in Centre to assist with the increased numbers, with most days seeing at least 80 people come in for showers, to do their laundry, and have a tea or coffee.”
The men’s hostel, which in the past has been between 50-75 per cent full during the summer season, has been at almost full capacity for weeks, with increased numbers of people seeking assistance.
Emergency relief opened on 4 January to a huge number of appointments and food parcels given out, with The Salvation Army working with other agencies to meet the high demand.
Captains Nari and Stuart McGifford and their children, who have been in Alice Springs for 12 months since moving there from Melbourne, have joined the town’s population in just getting used to being hot during this time.
The Christmas meeting in the air-conditioned hall was full!
“After a week of temperatures in the 40s we do get tired, but we have learned to live and work differently,” said Captain McGifford. “We don’t rush around like we did in Melbourne, we drink more water and we adapt to a different life and different pace.
“We have a tap in front of our Salvation Army building where people can fill up their water bottles. There is cold water in the community centre that people can access as well, and it’s air-conditioned so people come in to cool down.
"And attendance is up at church, but we don’t know if it’s because they want to be at church or because it’s air-conditioned!
“The people here have good survival skills though, and resilient instincts. Stuff happens and you work out ways to adapt, gather your resources and get around it. It is what it is.”
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