Support needed after disasters

Posted Mar 21, 2018 in News

Uniting Church in Australia President Stuart McMillan has asked church members to give generously to communities affected by bushfires and cyclones.

Bushfires ripped through Victoria’s south-west over the weekend, destroying 18 homes in Terang along with hundreds of livestock.

Watch and act alerts and emergency warnings were issued for 40 towns across Victoria as hot weather and strong winds fanned a number of blazes near Camperdown, Warrnambool and Hamilton.

The NSW south coastal town of Tathra was also devastated by bushfires, with more than 200 residents forced to flee their homes.

In Darwin, tropical cyclone Marcus brought down trees and powerlines when it struck the city on Sunday. Forecasters described the category-two cyclone as the strongest to hit Darwin in 30 years.

“Please join me in prayer for those in affected communities as they come to terms with rebuilding their lives and homes,” Stuart says.

“I ask all Uniting Church members to support our appeals as they can, which go to support ministry in disaster-affected communities.”

The Assembly’s National Disaster Recovery Officer Rev Dr Stephen Robinson says chaplains have been deployed into affected areas to provide support on the ground.

“We will have an ongoing presence in chaplaincy as long as the evacuation and recovery centres are open,” Stephen explains.

“We expect that police will be letting people know which houses have been destroyed and our chaplains will play a part in supporting them in this process.”

Donate to the National Disaster Relief Fund to fund disaster recovery chaplaincy and support programs for families affected by the natural disasters.

Photo: Foodbank/Twitter

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