Update on Victorian Bushfire Funds

In 2009 the generous members of the Sydney Diocese donated $575,000 towards those affected by the devastating February 09 bushfires in Victoria.
The funds were allocated by the Diocese of Melbourne with most of the money being used to fund chaplains and community support workers to provide pastoral care to those people whose homes, communities and in some cases family, had been destroyed in the fire.

ACCESS ministries were one organisation that received our funds and they have reported back that their chaplains have been able to provide pastoral care to students, parents and staff of the school communities in the Kinglake and Whittlesea area. They attended and facilitated many memorial services as well as 12 month anniversaries. Chaplains have journeyed beside many families, school staff and students as they have grieved over the losses faced during this time, losses being that of friends, family members, property, pets, all their possessions, work, schools and the in pouring of goodwill from outsiders to these tightly woven communities which was sometimes confronting.

The process of grieving will take a long time, particularly when many families are still struggling to rebuild, many still living in caravans or with friends. It will take many, many years for some individuals to move to a place of ‘normality’. The work of the Chaplains will continue and will be required for some time yet.