Sorting through the blackened remains
Many families living on rural properties outside of Coonabarabran, western NSW, have lost everything. (Photo courtesy of Majors Peter and Jean Ridley)
Salvation Army rural chaplains are providing emotional and spiritual support to families who have lost everything in the fires that devastated the small community of Coonabarabran, western New South Wales.
"Yesterday they opened the road and allowed some of the farmers to go back and view their property. We went back with some of those farmers and just walked over the remains of what was there and talked them through it,” says North NSW Rural Chaplain, Major Jean Ridley.
“The thing that struck us as we drove down this now barren road … was the smell of rotting flesh of sheep, cattle, kangaroos and pigs and other wildlife,” adds Major Peter Ridley. “We came across a farmer digging a huge hole to bury about 20 head of cattle that had been burned to death.“
More than 40 homes were destroyed when a fire raged through the nearby Warrumbungle National Park.
Majors Peter and Jean Ridley arrived at Coonabarabran on Tuesday, when residents who had been evacuated from their rural properties were still unable to return home to assess the damage. Many had lost everything – leaving their properties with just the clothes they were wearing.
“We are getting comments perpetually: ‘The Salvos are here,’”’ says Major Jean. “We’re needed. Whether we’re here to help with financial help or what – they [the community] know the Salvos are here and everything’s going to be OK.
“And that just humbles you so much and makes you feel so inadequate for what is needed here.”
In addition to providing support in Coonabarabran, Salvation Army personnel and volunteers are currently working in disaster zones in Tasmania and Victoria offering emotional as well as material support to those in need. Our Emergency Services crews have served thousands of meals to date, and remain on standby where needed.
The Salvation Army is calling on the Australian community to give generously at this time to assist and provide help to those in need.
“People have lost everything,” says Major Jean. “They need to start building, they need to start getting their homes in order again. Those that still have something left, a shell left, need to start repairing. People have lost cattle, they need to buy food, they need to buy clothes.”
Majors Peter and Jean Ridley plan on staying in Coonabarabran for as long as it takes to support the community through the long, hard task of recovery.
“We’ll stay here as long as it takes,” says Major Jean.
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