Salvo teams in full swing over the weekend throughout SE Queensland
BY SIMONE WORTHING
in Queensland
Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams were in full swing in South East Queensland over the weekend as the densely populated area from Double Island Point to Coolangatta experienced winds of up to 105km/h and hundreds of millimetres of rain in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred.
Cyclone Alfred made landfall as a category one system but dropped to a tropical low-pressure system throughout its crossing period just 60km north of Brisbane’s CBD.
More than 230,000 households and businesses remain without power and flash flooding alerts have been issued for coastal areas clustered around the Brisbane, Gold Coast, Logan and Ipswich council areas.
SAES response
“We have teams on standby to come down from northern Queensland,” explained Major Bindy Lupis, Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) National Response Manager.
“It looks like we might be wrapping up in some areas of Queensland, but several rivers are still rising, so we are on standby. Our South Queensland teams’ capacity will be stretched, so we want teams ready to deploy quickly.
“It’s weird ... some centres are closing and wrapping up while we are on standby for others to open.
“Adam [Cole, SAES response coordinator] is currently at Riverview Gardens (Salvation Army Aged Care Centre) with a few volunteers, cooking up a storm and distributing meals.”
Daryl Crowden, General Manager, SAES, said that they were finalising details to begin the next stage ‘Recovery’ program in the communities of South East Queensland and Northern NSW as of tomorrow.
Pine Rivers Responding to a local council request (as is the process in Queensland), a Salvation Army team is catering and assisting at the Pine Rivers evacuation centre north of Brisbane.
Corps officers Aux-Lieutenants Alli and Liam Holland have been joined by retired officers Majors San and Topher Holland, and Chris Brindley, Strategic Planning Partner at Divisional Headquarters and SAES volunteer. Carolyn Spratling and Michael West, SAES response coordinators from Victoria and Tasmania, respectively, are assisting at this site and coordinating the wider response in the region.
The Pine Rivers team served 40 people for breakfast this morning and will continue preparing and serving meals until needs are met and they are stood down. They also prepared and delivered meals to the smaller evacuation centres at Rothwell and Caboolture.
Runaway Bay The Runaway Bay evacuation centre on the Gold Coast served 70 people for lunch today and is still operating. The Gold Coast City Council has transferred people from other evacuation centres to Runaway Bay, making it the only one open in the region.
The Council also brought a few people into the centre who had nothing but the rain-soaked clothes they arrived in. Salvos Stores swung into action and, before long, had bags of clothes ready for those who needed them.
Power was out in the area over the weekend, adding to the challenges faced by the SAES team there.
Volunteer Kevin Lawler, who is also a community engagement worker at the Gold Coast Temple Corps, cooked meals on the SAES trailer outside. These were served inside the centre, away from the driving rain and howling wind.
Supplies have also been stretched. “We make do with what we have though,” said Kevin. “We are being very resourceful. Council has brought some in some supplies, and we are still able to put out nice meals for people,” he said.
“There is an atmosphere that we’re all in this together. Earlier, people were scared, then frustrated, and always hungry. Everyone is out of their routine, but we’re getting on with things.
“We’ve had some wonderful interactions with people. The police here have been offering to help in the kitchen. Everyone is getting on with each other – those experiencing homelessness, those who’ve been flooded out, who have lost roofs, who are just coming in for a feed.
“We are all tired, but spirits are high. They’re a great bunch, all volunteers, so here because we want to be and we’re in it together.”
Kevin shared that one man, who had been thinking about life, as people often do in disasters, had given his life to Jesus. Kevin, who is also a chaplain, will follow up with the man in coming weeks, as was requested.
The evacuation centres at Nambour and Caloundra will continue catering today.
Hervey Bay In coastal Hervey Bay, 300km north of Brisbane, more than 300mm and strong winds lashed the region yesterday afternoon, causing flash flooding, evacuation of several low-lying homes, airport closure and increased deployment of SES (State Emergency Service) crews.
“Major Jacqui Warrington, (ministry team member) offered Salvation Army resources at Hervey Bay Baptist Church where a makeshift shelter has been set up, and we are assessing damage at the corps,” said Major Lauriee Arthur, Hervey Bay Corps Officer, with Major Paul Arthur.
To donate to The Salvation Army’s Cyclone Alfred Appeal, click here. You can also donate at Woolworths, both in-store and online.
