Others Magazine

Captain Ronald Stobie, Corps Officer at Maryborough (Vic.), with a helicopter packed with bedding ready to fly to isolated communities impacted by the floods in Victoria.

The Salvation Army will immediately mobilise up to $2 million from its Red Shield Appeal funds to support communities in flood-affected areas across NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

The Mooroopna Thrift Store underwater over the weekend.    

As torrential rain and swollen rivers continue to inundate many parts of Australia, displacing thousands of people from their homes, the Salvos are in evacuation centres, providing meals, emotional support and material aid, such as bedding, toiletries and clothing.

Funds from the Red Shield Appeal will directly support people whose homes have been impacted or are expected to be impacted, by this latest series of rain events. Assistance may include help with the clean-up, emergency accommodation or clothing.

The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) currently have teams assisting at nine centres: Creswick, Bendigo, Seymour, Echuca, Tatura and Shepparton in Victoria; Moama and Wagga Wagga in NSW. As the floods peaked last week, the Salvos were in 22 evacuation centres across NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. 

The Salvation Army Emergency Services have been working with Australian Army personnel to set up an evacuation centre in Bendigo Showgrounds.   

“Salvation Army personnel are on the ground right now in our catering trucks and trailers, providing meals for those impacted by floods. In addition to meals, they are offering emotional support to the many people who have been suddenly displaced from their homes,” said Major Bruce Harmer, National Public Relations Secretary.

Major Warren Elliott, Victoria Public Relations Secretary, flew to Shepparton this afternoon and reported that much of the area was underwater, including Salvation Army centres.

“There are some Army properties currently inundated, including Rochester hall and thrift shop, Mooroopna Thrift Shop and the Shepparton corps officer was evacuated from her quarters,” he said. “Army volunteers and members are staying together at the corps hall at the present.”

The Salvos team in Maribyrnong preparing breakfast over the weekend for emergency services teams responding to the floods.

Long-haul response

After the initial emergency response phase, The Salvation Army will remain in communities for however long it takes to ensure they are supported practically, as well as emotionally, through the recovery and rebuild phases.

“Now more than ever, we need to band together and support these people when they need it most,” Bruce said. “The early and long-term recovery phases of our disaster response, implemented during times of natural disaster, remain in place often for years following the disaster itself. We are here for the long haul.

“Our SAES teams have been managing disaster relief for more than 50 years, and we have a trusted history of working with governments and other agencies in supporting communities until they are back on their feet.”

Services that will be made available include teams of case workers, who will mobilise to affected areas and work directly with individuals and families to provide financial support and acute care for the duration of the recovery journey.

“Natural disasters such as floods, while devastating for those directly impacted, have the ability to unite us as a country and show that Aussie spirit for which we are known.”

* Report compiled by The Salvation Army Media Relations Department

If you would like to make a financial donation via The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, which supports Australian disasters, please visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 72 58 (13 SALVOS).