Salvos labelled ‘angels on earth’ as Victorian bushfire relief continues
- kirranicolle
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
BY KIRRALEE NICOLLE
With nearly 400,000 hectares burnt in the current Victorian bushfire crisis and up to 12 fires still raging, The Salvation Army is continuing to assist affected communities by providing food, bedding, electrical gear and other necessities.
More than 350 structures have been destoyed, and one person lost their life in the Longwood fire, near the central Victorian town of Seymour.
At the height of the disaster, The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) were on the ground in 12 centres across impacted areas of the state. Over the course of the fire emergency, they have served more than 8400 meals and snacks to evacuees and first responders.
As of this afternoon, SAES were serving first responders and residents in eight centres – Lilydale, Shepparton, Whittlesea, Mansfield, Wodonga, Healesville, Seymour and Yea.
At the Yea staging area yesterday morning, SAES teams served a cooked breakfast and coffee to 200 first responders and community members. The relief centre in Seymour was also a hive of activity, where Mitchell Shire Salvos were also assisting residents in the Mitchell, Murrindindi and Strathbogie shires who have either evacuated or been affected by fires.
Captain Lauren Kirkham with representatives from Greater Shepparton City Council; Salvos Emergency, Aid and Development General Manager Daryl Crowden offers service with a smile; The donated food on offer in Seymour. Images: Facebook and supplied
Seymour Corps Officer Captain Lauren Kirkham said her team has assisted up to 100 people per day at the Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre. These people are coming through seeking food relief, emergency needs such as bedding and power, and a supportive community in the face of great loss.
Lauren said public warnings that alerted residents to the fact that fire crews would be unable to contain the blazes in the area were much needed but had left many very afraid and uncertain about what was going to happen.
“We’ve got a lot of traumatised people that have come in just looking for assistance and what they need to do next,” she said.
Lauren added that, now, people were beginning to see the burnt remains of their houses and, as a result, were processing immense grief. She said many residents had lost a great deal, especially in the nearby town of Ruffy.
Salvos on the ground, connecting with the community and businesses, and doing what they do best: serve. Images: Facebook
The Seymour team has established a warehouse for material aid distribution in collaboration with local youth organisation Gnarly Neighbours and are providing essentials such as shelf-stable snacks and electrolyte drinks, sunscreen, hand sanitiser and zip lock bags.
The team has also partnered with Greater Shepparton City Council, which kindly donated 22 pallets of food relief, including pet food, collected through the generosity of Shepparton residents.
Lauren said the help from across the region and the state had been overwhelming.
“We’ve had a lot of volunteers just getting in and doing stuff,” she said.
“Our staff have been spending their own personal time coming in to help. [We’ve] had people come up from Melbourne to help, which has been lovely.”
One community member at the Seymour relief centre took pains to express their thanks to the Salvos, saying in a note left on a whiteboard at the centre that the help and caring on offer was “absolutely appreciated and beautiful”.
“Angels on earth,” they wrote at the end of the note.
Salvos Online will continue to bring updates as they become available.
Would you like to become a Salvation Army Emergency Services volunteer? Click here for more information.
