10 February 2009

Statement: Seventh-day Adventist Church in Victoria bushfire updates

Nunawading, Victoria
Wayne Stanley

I am sure there is not a single person in Victoria today that does not feel impacted by the current situation and the devastation caused by the bushfires. At a time like this we feel helpless and confused as we stand beside friends, neighbours and fellow church members who have been impacted by this disaster.

At this stage, we are uncertain of the total extent of the damage to the friends, families and neighbours of our church family. We are aware of a number of families who have lost their homes. We are also aware of a number of friends of the Adventist Church who have lost their lives in the fires. Our hearts and prayers go out to these people and their families.

At this point of time we are aware of news from a number of specific areas:

• A church member and his family from Healesville have lost their house.
• A church member from Greensborough has lost his house.
• A family who are friends of the church in Kinglake have lost their home.
• A family attending church at Moe has lost everything.
• Some members of Seymour church, living at Broadford, have not been contactable.
• An Adventist businessman has lost a substantial amount of heavy equipment.
• Nabethong, a health centre operated as a private venture by some of the church families, has been spared.

Without doubt we will soon hear the details of other situations.

In regards to our aged care facilities, the Department of Health and Ageing have put out several guidelines concerning the management of aged care facilities for residents in severe weather. Our staff members are well-versed in the management of residents in severe heat. All our residents have been well managed and have fared well through the heat. We thank our aged care staff for their exceptional care of our residents through the severe weather.

Currently Adventcare Whitehorse, and Adventcare Bendigo are not affected. AdventCare Yarra Ranges is near the vicinity of the fires. Mr Alex Bolek and his staff are prepared in the event of an evacuation. Let us pray that it will not come to that.

At the moment we would like to do our best to coordinate information and to keep you informed of how you can help your community on a regular basis.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Victoria will take up a special offering in all its churches this Saturday, 14 February 2009, to collect money that can be given directly to Adventist Church members, family and friends who have been affected by the disaster. This offering is an initiative of the Adventist Church in Victoria. The money collected will go directly, and as quickly as possible, to those Adventist families and friends affected by the fires. As the money collected will be used specifically for Adventist families and friends, the money collected will not be tax deductible.

Please share information concerning this offering with all your church members as soon as possible. Beside human love and comfort, and our prayers this is a very tangible way of assisting our members. If you wish to donate to this collection directly to the office please contact the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Steve Whitson on (03) 9264 7711.

The Adventist Church in Victoria has donated an initial $25,000 from its funds to be used for immediate assistance to Adventist families and friends.

We would encourage you, if you are able to donate blood, to do so through the Australia Red Cross (phone: 13 14 95).

Please keep our community in your thoughts and prayers as many continue to battle the flames and sift through the rubble. May God be with our fire fighters, we thank them for their bravery and pray that God will protect them. Our hearts go out to those who are victims of this tragedy may God be with them as they rebuild their broken homes, families, hopes and dreams.

Contact:

Information Centre - to find out how to help

Helpline or phone (03) 9264 7703 - if you need help. Please include:

• Details of affected families who may need our help, and
• specific ways in which these families would like to be helped.

We will then do our best to coordinate the resources of the church administration and local church members to assist our community.

Update #2 on 11 February 2009

Nathan Brown, editor of Record, reflects on the Victorian bushfires.

ADRA offers assistance.

Making sense of destruction.