Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
7 Jan 2013
Dunalley's Primary School burned in Tasmania's catastrophic bushfires
As Sydney braces for 43 degree temperatures tomorrow with fire fighters already battling blazes across the State, St Vincent de Paul Society is helping provide victims of Tasmania's devastating bushfires with urgently-needed essentials.
Vinnies Tasmania has already set up a temporary warehouse at Tasmania's showgrounds in Glenorchy to receive donations of blankets/bedding, toilet packs, children's and babies' clothes and new unworn clothing for adults. Financial donations are also urgently needed not only so the immediate needs of the thousands affected by the devastating bushfires can be met but also to help these men, women and children over the next several weeks and months as they struggle to rebuild their homes and lives.
To help these people now and into the future Vinnies Tasmania has launched an appeal where money raised will go to help those in need with clothing, furniture, bedding, appliances and also with the cost of medicines, prescriptions and well as ongoing support for them as long as it is needed.
Today St Vincent De Paul Society's National Secretary, Norm Moore expressed his deep sympathy to all those in Tasmania and other parts of the country affected by bushfires in recent days.
Courageous firefighters continue to battle blazes in Tasmania
"Our thoughts are with all victims and the volunteers, who are working to alleviate the suffering caused by this disaster. I also wish to extend a huge thanks to all the people who are generously supporting us," Mr Moore said this morning.
More than 40 blazes continue to rage across Tasmania. So far 100 homes have now been gutted and totally destroyed.
Although there is widespread relief and gratitude that what are being described as Tasmania's worst bushfires in 40 years have so far claimed no lives, some in the affected areas remain unaccounted for. Police in Tasmania confirm the 100 reported missing yesterday have now been located. But add that there are still al number of people who are unaccounted for and have urged anyone who escaped the fires to register their details with the National Registration or with the Red Cross.
Victims of Tasmania's bushfires receive counselling and financial advice at evacuation centres
At the weekend police carried out searches of 245 properties in Dunalley and to the north of the town including 90 badly damaged or destroyed buildings. The preliminary screening search of the area found no fatalities. Today police are continuing their search in an area south of Dunalley, in the more densely forested areas of Murdunna and Sommers Bay.
Meanwhile the thousands forced to flee Tasmania's bushfires are now either staying with friends or relatives or in evacuation shelters which have been established at the Hobart Town Hall, and at evacuation centres in Sorell and Nubeena. Those whose homes were destroyed have little more than the clothes they stand up in. For many hundreds of others, the speed of the fires also meant they escaped with a few scant possessions such as a family photograph album and the clothes they were wearing. Most of these people have no idea when they will be able to return to their burned out towns and communities. They also have no idea what sort of damage their homes, businesses or farms may have suffered.
The Tasmanian Government has ensured counselling is available to victims of the bushfires as well as financial advice on how to access the Federal Government's Disaster Recovery Payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child. Victims are also being provided with a guide to emergency loans available and other additional help.
As most Australians remember from Victoria's deadly Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009, the loss of homes, possessions, memories and communities has far-reaching consequences. Many victims of Victoria's bushfires were forced to spend two and three years without a permanent home and were often forced to live many kilometres from their burned out community, neighbours and network of friends.
One of the 100 properties destroyed in Tasmania's bushfires
Four years on, many of these families from Black Saturday 2009 continue to battle depression and emotional distress. This is why Vinnies Tasmania hopes people from throughout Australia will give generously to help those who have lost everything.
With the 40-plus temperatures of Tasmania's extreme heatwave now down to 27 with light breezes it is hoped most of the fires still burning can be brought under control. But fires continue to threaten South Australia, Victoria and NSW and with Sydney about to experience a sweltering 43 degrees tomorrow, there are grave fears for people, livestock and property.
For details about Vinnies Tasmania and how to donate log on to St Vincent de Paul Society Tasmania's Facebook Page athttp://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/St-Vincent-de-Paul-Society-Tasmania/133939480016860 or log on to http://www.vinnies.org.au/home-tas
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
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