Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
18 Jan 2013
18 Jan 2013
Fires continue to burn out of control in the Warrumbungle National Park
As fires continue to rage out of control in Coonabarabran and north west NSW where 51 homes have been destroyed, the Bishop of Bathurst, the Most Rev Michael McKenna has established a fund to help victims of the worst bushfires to hit the region in more than 40 years.
Earlier this week, Bishop McKenna called on Australians to pray for and offer practical help to victims of fires and yesterday launched the Diocese of Bathurst's Coonabarabran Bushfire Appeal.
Donations can be made by direct deposit to an account set up by the Diocese's Bushfire Appeal Fund or if a tax deductable receipt is required via donations to Centacare Bathurst.
Fires burning in north west NSW have already been declared a catastrophe with 14 of the 83 fires uncontained. More than 200 fire fighters are working around the clock, assisted by 20 aircraft during the day.
Apart from those who have lost their homes, many have been evacuated as the fires rage through and around farmland.
Bishop praises courage and comittment of rural fire fighters as they battle blazes near Coonanabarabran
The Centacare Bathurst agency has trained counsellors and workers on the ground in Coonabarabran visiting those who have been evacuated to the local Bowling Club and other facilities in the town. After holding talks with the local Warrumbungle Shire Council, Centacare has offered to assist with the distribution of shopping vouchers to victims as well as urgently needed essentials such as clothing and bedding.
In addition to helping establish and manage the Diocese's Bushfire Appeal Fund, Centacare plans to reinforce its team of trained counsellors next week to help victims with practical as well as emotional support as they come to terms with the loss of their homes and for farmers, the further loss of livestock, sheds, outbuildings and fencing.
Some landowners allowed back to their properties have been faced with the grim task of dealing with hundreds of dead sheep and cattle or having to put down many animals badly burnt as the fires raged across paddocks.
Bishop Michael McKenna announces funding to help victims of fires
Further roles and activities in which Centacare will play a key role will evolve over the next few weeks. Decisions on the best way Centacare Bathurst can provide on-going help will follow further discussions at a local level among other service providers over the coming days.
Counsellors expect to be needed in the region over many months as the initial shock wears off and the reality of devastating loss experienced by so many families hits home.
In the aftermath of Victoria's Black Saturday which destroyed entire towns and left so many homeless, it was found that many bushfire victims were in need of emotional support more than 18 months later.
"In the early days people are so busy trying to organise their lives, the insurance and cope with the disaster that it is often not until much later that the enormity of what they experienced affects them and depression sets in," says a counsellor from Centacare Victoria.
Today with temperatures expected to soar into the 40's Coonabarabran's 3000 residents are on high alert as rural fire fighters continue to battle the 45,000 hectare blaze that continuing to burn out of control across the Warrumbungle National Park.
Heat of Coonabarabran fires melted metal, destroying cars, farm vechiles and sheds
Early this morning one of the fires broke containment lines as the blaze entered its fifth day.
Bishop McKenna has nothing but praise for the courage and competence of fire fighters, many of whom are volunteers, as well as the emergency workers operating in the area.
To donate to the Diocese of Bathurst's Bushfire Appeal to help victims of the Coonabarabran fires log on to - http://www.bathurst.catholic.org.au/?i=1191&donate-to-coonabarabran-bushfire-appeal
Alternatively you can send donations direct to Centacare Bathurst, PO Box 1215, Bathurst NSW 2795.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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