Victorian Bushfire Appeal
Situation
On Saturday, 7 February 2009, Victoria experienced what has been called the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history, ‘Black Saturday’.
All-time record temperatures were being reached, 46.4 °C (115.5 °F) in Melbourne, the hottest temperature ever recorded in an Australian capital city.
With 12 different fire zones across the state, a total of 210 people died, with 2,029 homes as well as schools, businesses and community buildings destroyed.
Fires badly damaged and almost completely destroyed areas of Kinglake, Marysville, Narbethong, Strathewen and Flowerdale. Thousands of people across Victoria were left displaced.
ACC International Relief’s Response
Through the ongoing generosity of the Australian people, ACC International Relief has currently raised over $850,000 for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
ACC International Relief and the Bushfire Taskforce have funded the following activities:
- Vouchers for meals, tools and white goods
- Shared two-year rent of the Relief Centre shop front in Kinglake
- The employment of two full-time chaplains for 12 months from Chaplaincy Australia
- Weekly travel and ministry costs for eight community chaplains
- 25% of Chaplaincy Australia National Director salary for 12 months
- Construction materials for a Relief and Administration office building in Whittlesea
- Bus driver’s licences for two people at the request of local council to New Horizons Church to provide long-term transport for local youth from affected areas to school and youth programs
- Finance to conduct a Flowerdale community memorial service
- Sponsorship of Community Fairs at Steels Creek and Yarra Glen
- Support for the Marysville Triangle community centre (printers and photocopier) and security and sound costs for the New Life Festival community event
- Post Traumatic Stress counseling workshop to help people identify signs of depression and suicide and equip them to support each other
- Care for the carers
- The construction of a purpose built trailer and equipment used for fun activity sessions for children in affected areas.
It is an absolute honour to partner with so many people from right around Australia to make a difference in the lives of those affected by this tragedy.
Thank you for your ongoing generosity.
If you would like to continue to support the work that ACC International Relief is doing for the victims of the Black Saturday fires, please call the office on 1300 997 502.
