Tag: Disaster Relief

President launches Storm Relief Appeal

Post author By revivewa
Post date June 9, 2016

The president of the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA), Stuart McMillan, has today launched a national appeal to assist communities hit by recent storms.

An intense low pressure system off Australia’s east coast has led to a number of deaths and widespread damage to property. Residents across New South Wales are facing a massive clean-up while Tasmanians are experiencing the worst floods in 90 years.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones. We grieve with the families and friends and pray for the safety of all,” said Stuart.

“The Uniting Church seeks to support people in need in such times of difficulty and to join with others at the heart of community recovery.”

“So I am today launching an appeal to encourage UCA members wherever they are to support our ministry in these places at this time of great need.”

Tags A Helping Hand, Disaster Relief

News & Announcements

Boyup brook support for BlazeAid

Post author By revivewa
Post date April 14, 2016

On behalf of the combined churches of Boyup Brook in the south west of WA, a cheque for $2,055.30 will be presented to BlazeAid, an organisation which assists people in rural Australia after disaster.

The churches, including members of local Uniting, Baptist, Catholic and Anglican Churches asked for donations of second hand books and items for a jumble sale held during the Boyup Brook Country Music Festival.

Volunteers spent many hours sorting the books into various classifications and marking each book with a bargain price. St Saviour’s Anglican Church, located within the area of the street market during the festival, provided the ideal site for the book sale. Volunteers from the local churches thank Boyup Brook Country Music Festival organisers for their support.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

Support and training for long-term recovery in Fiji

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 27, 2016

Cyclone Winston, the strongest storm ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere made landfall in Fiji on 20 February, flattening entire villages with torrential rain, storm surges and winds of more than 300 km per hour.

More than 40 people were killed and thousands of homes damaged. Hospitals, schools, crops, livestock and water supplies were hit and thousands of Fijians were forced to shelter in schools, churches and community buildings. Many remain there today. Thanks to a generous response to UnitingWorld’s emergency appeal – gifts of almost $200 000 – UnitingWorld were able to respond quickly. Funds are being used to assist the Methodist Church in Fiji, a partner church of the Uniting Church in Australia, to work alongside the Fijian government and provide humanitarian relief to thousands of people throughout affected communities.

In particular, providing food, shelter, water purification tablets and cooking utensils, which are critically important for preparing the type of food that is distributed in emergencies and for purifying potentially contaminated water. These materials are being bought in non-affected areas of Fiji, helping to buoy the local economy and sustain the livelihoods of local people.

Tags A Helping Hand, Disaster Relief, International

News & Announcements

Support for Fiji

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 25, 2016

UnitingWorld have launched an emergency appeal to support the people of Fiji following Cyclone Winston.

Over 40 people have lost their lives in the devastation, a number which is expected to rise as the clean-up continues. The Methodist Church in Fiji, a partner church of the Uniting Church in Australia, has reported that thousands of homes have been destroyed, leaving tens of thousands of people in immediate need of food, shelter and clothing.

UnitingWorld are asking that Australians keep the people of Fiji in their thoughts and prayers as they begin to respond to the crisis. Donations to the UnitingWorld appeal will be used to support the work of the Methodist Church in Fiji as they provide assistance to those affected.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has expressed its concern and extended prayers to the people of Fiji. Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC has also written to the Fiji Council of Churches, offering prayers and encouragement to the local churches to be a voice of hope for those who are in pain.

For regular updates and to donate, visit http://www.unitingworld.org.au/announcements/unitingworld-launches-emergency-appeal-to-support-the-people-of-fiji-following-cyclone-winston/.

Tags A Helping Hand, Disaster Relief, International

News & Announcements

Esperance bands together in bushfire aftermath

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 12, 2016

Two months on from devastating fires in the Esperance region, the town is beginning to recover. Many people have experienced property damage, and four lives were tragically lost. Recovery efforts have been difficult however, due to another fire which spread along approximately 50km of the coast in early January, burning at the same time as serious fires in the south west.

While no serious damage was reported after the second fire, firefighters and volunteers were under extreme pressure as resources were spread across the state. Fear and uncertainty also took over as smoke was once again hovering through the town, with many locals on high alert.

Rev Robert Dummermuth, minister at Esperance and Condingup Uniting Churches, is working tirelessly to help support the local community. As a volunteer with the SES, Robert as on the frontline while the fires were burning. Now as the recovery process begins, he is providing pastoral support and community building opportunities for the local people.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

Recovery for the long-term

Post author By revivewa
Post date February 11, 2016

Rev Dr Stephen Robinson, national disaster recovery officer with the Uniting Church in Australia, visited WA’s south west in late January to help local Uniting Church congregations and members work out strategies that will best help people affected by serious fires in the area.

Two people lost their lives in Yarloop when fires destroyed most of the town and threatened areas around Harvey and Waroona. While there is no Uniting Church congregation in Yarloop, congregations in surrounding areas will be offering support to those affected.

Stephen said that recovery is a long-term process. While other agencies are best at assisting as crisis hits, the Uniting Church is committed to, and well resourced, to help with long-term recovery, which could take two to three years.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

Prayers and support during bushfire season

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 11, 2015

As summer approaches, bushfire season is well upon us. Already in WA we have seen devastating fires with properties destroyed and lives lost. Fire alerts have been issued in multiple areas across the state, including Toodyay, Ellenbrook and Bindoon. The community of Esperance has been particularly affected with, tragically, four people losing their lives as a result of fire in the area.

The Uniting Church WA’s Disaster Response and Community Recovery Working Group are working hard to respond to the situation. Letting the emergency services do what they do best, the working group exists to support communities in the wake of disaster, helping to rebuild in the months after a crisis.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

President calls for prayers and support for our bushfire affected communities

Post author By revivewa
Post date December 1, 2015

Uniting Church in Australia president, Stuart McMillan, has called for prayers and support for those devastated by bushfires in recent weeks.

Communities in the Pinery region north of Adelaide and in Esperance on the south coast of Western Australia face a long recovery process after battling major blazes which claimed six lives and caused widespread destruction of homes, farmland and other property.

“We hold in prayer all those who have lost loved ones, those who have lost homes and everyone involved in the response, both now and in the long recovery phase ahead,” said Stuart.

“We are heartened to hear how people within those regions have responded with compassion for each other, opening up their homes, churches, clubs and businesses to assist those in need.”

Bushfires in South Australia’s mid north claimed two lives and left others seriously injured. Hundreds of firefighters were called on to contain the blaze which has burned more than 80,000 hectares.

SA Disaster and Recovery Ministries Coordinator Wendy Perkins said more than 20 chaplains from different denominations were called upon to be with people at the Relief Centre in Gawler.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

News & Announcements

Nepal earthquake: churches respond

Post author By revivewa
Post date June 25, 2015

Churches have responded with a number of appeals after a devastating earthquake hit Nepal, followed by a second earthquake weeks later. Over 8000 people have died in the disaster, and many thousands more left injured, homeless and vulnerable.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) issued a joint statement calling on churches around the world to pray for the families of those who have died, and for those who have been injured or been affected by property loss and damage.

“We offer our heartfelt condolences to the people of Nepal and northern India who lost loved ones in their families and among friends in this powerful earthquake and its aftershocks. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are affected by this disaster,” said the Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the WCC.

Tags A Helping Hand, Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities

Stories & Feature Articles

Tradie volunteers prepare for Outback Links farm revival

Post author By revivewa
Post date March 17, 2015

The farmers of remote Australia need your help. Many are facing their third year of drought.

Without good rainfall, there are no crops or less stock to generate income for farmers. If vital equipment and infrastructure wears out or breaks down, there isn’t the money or means to repair it. It’s part of a downturn on the land that can lead to stress and depression.

Frontier Services, a national agency of the Uniting Church in Australia, has been helping people in remote Australia for more than 100 years. Since 2005, their volunteers’ program ‘Outback Links’ has grown to more than 1,000 volunteers who travel to remote properties to assist families through difficult times.

This April will bring a new development in ‘Outback Links’ when 10 young apprentice tradespeople participate in a 6 day ‘Outback Links’ farm revival in the drought-afflicted region around Lightning Ridge in North-Western NSW. This trip is a follow up from one in November 2014 where volunteers worked on 30 local properties.

Volunteers include plumbers, mechanics, electricians and carpenters. Under the supervision of professional tradespeople and host farmers, they will repair broken equipment like tractors, motor bikes and farm machinery, and rebuild infrastructure like sheds and homes.

Tags Disaster Relief, Remote and rural communities