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The following updates have been received from Salvation Army Emergency Services. They are posted infrequently due to the priority of Emergency Services staff to provide aid to the fire fighters and victims.
Donations to assist victims
The affected communities and shires have requested The Salvation Army to receive public donations for the victims of the bushfires. You can click here to donate via the Internet or phone 13 32 30 to support the Bushfire Appeal.
Immediate cash grants are made by the Salvation Army to community members who have had their primary residences destroyed by bushfires.
At this time, we are not requesting donations of furniture and clothing. Such donations may be made at your nearest Salvation Army Family Store where supplies will be drawn for people in need.
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Week of 17 March 2006
Salvation Army teams are active in support of the fire fighters who are combating the large blaze which struck in the Snake Gully area south west of Ballarat, Victoria, last weekend.
Teams were on scene within three hours of the fire breaking out and have provided in excess of 2,000 meals since 12 March.
Salvation Army teams from Western Victoria, including Ballarat and Geelong, along with state team members from Werribee and Dandenong have assisted.
There are reports that 6 homes have been lost, but there has been no official confirmation. |
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Not a bad effort for 7 months pregnant:
Carolyn is Assistant Victorian State Director for The Salvation Army Emergency Services.
On Saturday night she had a lightning strike on property adjoining her home. The subsequent small fire was put out by the local brigade.
On Sunday the St Andrews fire struck around the corner from her residence. At the request of the fire services she responded with food from the local store while we arranged back-up support from the state team.
On Monday she attended the Anikie fire to assume control for a period.
On Wednesday, Carolyn spent the day preparing equipment for further deployment.
On Thursday, Carolyn's home was again under threat, this time from the Kinglake fire, so she was needed at home to protect the property and animals including horses from the fire.
On Friday, as the threat abated, she attended the Kinglake fire and assumed responsibility for our operation at the fire for a period of time.
Not a bad effort when you consider her baby is due in 2 months time. | |
Week of 28 January 2006
Victoria:
The latest estimate of meals provided with the assistance of Salvation Army teams during the fires in Victoria exceeds 17,000.
- Tyrendarra: (Near Hamilton, Western Victoria)
Over 3 days (Wednesday to Friday) Portland team supplied approx 3,200 meals. All required resources were provided by the Dept of Sustainability. Average numbers were 250 to 300 per meal.
- Anikie / Brisbane Ranges (West of Anikie)
Saturday/Sunday Morning. Western Vic and Geelong team providing 390 meals.
Sunday, State team responded from Burrumbeet and St Andrews fires together with fresh resources from Melbourne in support of Geelong team. This fire was large and approx 1,000 breakfasts were provided on Monday morning.
A rotation system was established between the state team (supported by Dandenong team) and the Western Victorian team until local support was arranged for the Geelong team on Wednesday who then assumed responsibility for this fire. In excess of 8,000 meals were made available to fire-fighters during this fire.
Additional to the support to firefighters, support was also provided to community members through the relief centre at Anikie. Some cash assistance has already been paid to persons who had their residences impacted on by this fire.
- St. Andrews. (Riflerange Road, outer northern suburbs of Melbourne).
State team provided 75 meals.
- Burrumbeet: (West of Ballarat)
Western Victoria team was released from Brisbane Ranges fire and, with support from the state team (including Werribee team members), provided 150 meals.
- Creswick
Teams at Burrumbeet fire sent 135 meals to this fire.
- Moyston: (Grampians fire)
Monday morning, Western Victoria team responded to support Red Cross workers for a short period of time.
- Bendigo
Bendigo responded over a three day period in support of the Red Cross.
- Gippsland
Morwell and Leongatha teams responded in support of evacuated residents providing approx 200 meals along with other support at the local relief centre.
- Kinglake: (North of Melbourne)
Thursday, as this fire escalated the state team responded to support the local hotel and subsequently assumed responsibility for the feeding. Meals were also provided at the fire operations centre at Kangaroo Ground. In excess of 1,400 meals were provided by our team during this fire.
Bedding, food and other requisites were also made available to evacuated community members at the relief centre established at Whittlesea.
South Australia:
Western Australia
Reports about activities in this state are not yet to hand.
Tasmania
Reports about activities in this state are not yet to hand. |
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Week of 6 January 2006
Teams from The Salvation Army Emergency Services have been active this summer providing assistance to fire fighters across Australia, including:
South Australia:
- assisting for 2 days at a fire near Burra
- supporting fire workers at a brushfire near Whyalla
- providing aid at large fires east of Murray Bridge
- responding to a fire in the Flinders Ranges near Port Augusta
Victoria:
- supporting 180 fire fighters at Beveridge
- helping at a fire near Hamilton
- providing evening meals for fire fighters at the Yallourn open-cut coal mine
- several teams were called out to provide support at the Stawell fire.
Stawell Bushfire
The most serious incident is the Stawell bushfire on New Years Day, where the Northern Grampians Shire have indicated that 11 houses were destroyed that are principal places of residence. A number of holiday houses were also destroyed, and the number of homes reported as lost may rise as people return from holidays.
To the best information available, all properties lost at Stawell have been insured, and the state government is issuing grants for re-establishment and temporary living expenses to all victims.
The Salvation Army in Stawell is assisting with emergency finances, food and clothing for victims of the bushfire. |
Inquiries
Media inquiries can be made by contacting:
Brad Halse, Communications Director
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Phone: (03) 9896 6007
Mobile: 0417 537 950
Email:
Brad.Halse@aus.salvationarmy.org
Frances Ward, Community Liaison Officer
The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
Phone: (03) 9895 6206
Mobile: 0418 585 970
Email:
Frances.Ward@aus.salvationarmy.org |
