The Archbishop’s Bushfire Appeal administered by the Melbourne Anglican Benevolent Society Inc has provided pastoral care to all bushfire-affected areas in Melbourne and Marysville, as well as practical items such as tools or hardware vouchers.
For the many victims, the process of healing takes different paths. Some can’t wait to rebuild and return to their homes, for others returning is not an option, choosing instead to make a fresh start in a new location. Whatever the situation, the Bushfire Appeal will continue to support these communities for several years to come.
“Everyone wants to talk about Black Saturday”
New growth hugs the charred trees in bushfire ravaged Strathewen. It’s also a fitting metaphor for the Bushfire Ministry undertaken by Julia Mckinnon in this area. Funded by the generous donations to the Archbishop’s Bushfire Appeal, Julia and her co-worker Bruce Mclntosh have visited over a quarter of the families affected by the Black Saturday tragedy in Strathewen and St Andrews. Delivering a garden pack or a hardware voucher is usually the first point of contact.
“It’s a good way to break the ice,” says Julia.
“Everyone we meet wants to talk about Black Saturday. Where they were, where their families were; sometimes even where they weren’t at the time the fire struck”.