Update: The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier of Victoria John Brumby has announced that a National Day of Mourning would be held on Sunday 22 February, 2009 to honour the victims of Victoria's devastating bushfires and to recognise the courage and tireless efforts of emergency service workers...more

11 February 2009

Statement: Seventh-day Adventist Church in Victoria bushfire updates #2

Nunawading, Victoria
Wayne Stanley

If you need help | News update | Contact

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Victoria unites with all church members from around the state and Australia, to express their deep sympathy for the many families who have lost loved ones, friends, property, livestock, pets and much more in the recent bush fires.

We pray for strength and comfort for those who grieve such terrible loss and pray for rapid recovery for those who have been injured. We reflect on Christ who demonstrated unending compassion and sympathy for those who were hurting and pray that His followers will demonstrate the same compassion as they support their friends and neighbours.

As fires continue to rage, our thoughts are with those who are fighting to save life and property and those who face the grim task of assessing the level of loss to the community.

Through the various communication channels available to us, we are committed to ensuring that we become aware of specific needs in our community and respond as quickly as they arise.

If you need help

  • Pr Richard Araya-Bishop, Warburton church pastor is organising and coordinating counselling for Adventist Church members, families and friends as is requested. Pastor Richard Araya Bishop has a team of seven trained and qualified counselors and psychologists who have volunteered to provide counselling at any location required. If you are aware of anybody who may need counselling support, or if you are in need of such help yourself, please contact Pr Araya-Bishop on 0418 566 220, or the Redwood Counselling Centre on (03) 5966 2320.
  • We also have a number of our church members who are willing to open their homes as emergency accommodation for victims of the fires in need of accommodation. We thank our folks and have their name on a register should this be required. If you know of anyone in need of accommodation please contact Cveta Bakof on (03) 9264 7703.
  • The Victorian Conference has established a relief fund to provide immediate assistance to victims of the bushfires. We are keen to ensure that the money is distributed as quickly as possible. If you are aware of church members, families of church members or friends of the church who have suffered loss as a result of the fires, please contact your local church pastor, head of a local school or aged care facility or Mr Steve Whitson, the Chief Financial Officer on (03) 9264 7711.


News Update

  • The principal of Ironbark Christian School, Mrs Raelene Devlin, has reported that the school is safe and secure. The school, located in Yarrambat, is currently under no threat. The school has developed an emergency response plan and evacuation plan, which they are ready to implement should the need arise. All students and members of the staff and their families are safe. Unfortunately there has been some loss of property that has affected parents and grandparents of students as well as affecting some of the extended families of the staff members. Sadly, we understand that two former students were killed in the fires. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the extended school family.
  • Adventcare Yarra Ranges has been monitoring the fire situation very closely. The manager, Mr Alex Bolek, has kept in close contact with local police and CFA units. The fires in the Yarra Valley came within 10 km of our aged care facility. Adventcare Yarra Ranges have a very comprehensive evacuation plan but so far there has been no need to plan for this to be enacted. Currently the fires are around 30 km away from the facility and all the staff and residents are safe and secure. Some staff members' families were forced to evacuate their properties, but there has been no loss of property.
  • The fires came within a number of kilometers of Adventcare Bendigo, however there was no immediate threat to the facility. Currently all residents and staff members are safe and secure. Adventcare Bendigo will be conducting a morning tea fundraising event on Tuesday morning 17 February for all friends of Adventcare who may be affected.
  • Warburton Church in the Yarra Valley are happy to report that at this stage all their church members are safe. There has been no significant loss of property. However, a number of church member have families and friends that have experienced some loss of property.
  • Nunawading Christian College has taken up a collection of money and nonperishable canned food for the victims of the bushfires. As a result of this collection, a truckload of food has been taken up to Healesville to distribute in the district today. The year nine class has also presented a special message of condolence to all families of victims of the bushfires.
  • A number of the members of the Greensborough Church live in areas affected by the fires. All members of the church are safe and secure. A number of families had to protect their homes against spot fires. Unfortunately one of our families in the church has lost their home. Mrs Sherry Grey, a member of the Greensborough Church and a former Deputy Principal of the Kinglake Primary School, has returned to the area and is involved in counseling and chaplaincy at Whittlesea with former students and family members.
  • While the bushfire destroyed some properties in Narre Warren, South Heritage College has not been affected. All school families are safe and have not been directly impacted.
  • All school families at Edinburgh Adventist Primary School are safe but some students'grandparents have lost properties. Donations of clothes, toys, bedding and canned foods were collected and taken to a distribution point today. On Friday, a free dress day with gold coin donation will help to raise funds.
  • Lilydale Adventist Academy responded to a call for help to accommodate 30 boarding students from Healesville whose school was under threat from the bushfire. The ‘Revive' church group from Croydon have undertaken to assist with supervision and providing food, clothing and bedding. One student has lost two family members to the fire, two students lost their beloved horses and one family is being accommodated by a staff member until they can return to their home in an area that is currently threatened by fire. A call for donations went out to all staff and students this morning with $525 raised. The school is accepting cash donations from the school community until Friday.
  • None of the families at Gilson College have been directly affected at this stage. The school is planning a fundraising venture but details have not been finalised. A program is being planned at the school for the community on Thursday evening called ‘Reflections'.


The church through the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), has provided financial support.

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.

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

ADRA offers assistance.

Making sense of destruction.