Salvos commit to long-term care of cyclone-devastated Cassowary Coast
The Salvation Army now has a permanent presence in Innisfail with the opening of a Family Store. (L to R): Team Leader, Cassowary Coast Outpost, Major Anne Gumuna, Gwen Hammerton, and Linda and Victor Peterson. (Photo: Lauren Martin)
The Salvation Army has established a permanent presence in the cyclone-affected area of Queensland’s Cassowary Coast, with the opening of a Family Store at Innisfail.
Cyclone Yasi ripped through the area in February 2011, just five years after Cyclone Larry tore a similar path of destruction along the same coastline. Many homes on the Cassowary Coast remain damaged and people are still struggling to recover from the devastating storms.
Local Salvationist Gwen Hammerton led The Salvation Army Innisfail Emergency Services team at the time of Cyclone Yasi, and they were the first volunteers to reach nearby Tully after the storm had devastated the town.
Gwen coordinated initial relief efforts, feeding stranded residents, holidaymakers and emergency services personnel. Since the initial disaster relief, Gwen and others have continued to work on the Cassowary Coast, visiting people in their homes, distributing aid and offering emotional support.
“There’s been a lot of sadness due to the two cyclones and we have come in and offered people various things,” she says. “Our presence, it just changes their situation – they feel better.”
The establishment of a Family Store in the main street of Innisfail will now give The Salvation Army a permanent base from which to offer support, welfare and other services.
Team leader of the Cassowary Coast Outpost, Major Anne Gumuna, says funds raised through the Family Store will be spent on meeting the needs of the local community.
“We believe that this Family Store, this base for The Salvation Army in Innisfail, is just the start of something big for us here,” she says.
For Gwen, the opening of the store is the realisation of a long-held dream, but the long-term vision is far greater.
“We’re working on the pastoral care side of things and it would be really great if we continue to grow and we eventually have a church,” she says. “So there’s a lot of room for growth!”
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