Burned but not beaten – church vows to assist in long term community rebuilding

Friday, 20 Feb 2009

Media release - Anglican Diocese of Melbourne


20 February 2009

The Anglican Church, which lost many parishioners and two churches in the worst of the bushfires in the Whittlesea, Kinglake, Marysville, Wallan, Wandong and St Andrews areas, has today announced a community rebuilding team to assist in reconstruction.

The measures involve a senior Anglican minister, the Revd Ernest Horth, moving to the area with his wife Ida to temporarily live on site in a caravan to be immediately accessible to people affected by the fires.

Archbishop of Melbourne Dr Philip Freier said, “The team will ensure that that all of the substantial Anglican counselling services, pastoral and spiritual ministry, use of volunteers, and distribution of relief supplies, which have already been activated, are well integrated into local community initiatives.”

Ms Denise Nichols, a project officer with the team with international experience in disaster response, said. " I know from my overseas experience that huge unexpected disasters need a lot of planning and patience to produce an equitable and accessible reconstruction, with everyone cooperating together."

Dr Freier said that parishes around Melbourne have already begun forming partnerships with the parishes worst affected by the fires, and the experience of clergy who have suffered and ministered in previous bushfires, particularly Ash Wednesday 1983 in the Dandenongs, is being drawn upon.

“We learned important lessons after the 1983 bushfires about working with the community to rebuild a sense of hope and purpose,” Dr Freier said. “Our recovery co-ordinating committee is ready to respond now and in the months ahead.”


For further information, please contact

Jane Still, Anglican Media Melbourne
Ph 61 3 9653 4281 Mob 041 862 7043
jstill@melbourne.anglican.com.au
www.melbourne.anglican.com.au



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