Kinglake churchwarden Peter Crook is one of many Victorians reliving a dramatic escape from a burning house as the huge costs of this week’s fires continue to be counted.
Mr Crook, who managed to escape with his wife Wendy, said he had to act quickly when the fire which destroyed his church " St Peter's, Kinglake " ambushed his home on Saturday night, according to a media release from the office of the Australian Primate, after Archbishop Phillip Aspinall visited the affected areas this week with his Melburnian counterpart, Archbishop Philip Freier.
"Once the generator and car exploded in flames I had no way to pump water. The next door neighbour's house was on fire as were the homes behind and my rear sheds," Mr Crook said.
"I knew we were in trouble when I noticed the gate on the side of the house burning. With no water I grabbed a carton of soft drink and poured the contents of each can against the house to stop the flames from spreading from the gate to the roof."
The Rev Di Nicolios, senior minister of St John's Diamond Creek, has been hearing similar stories at the Diamond Creek relief centre, which is 20km away from the devastated suburb of Kinglake.
"When I talk to people I just keep saying, "There's no way to understand this, but all I can say to you is that God is with us and the Psalm says he is our strength and refuge, he is our present help in trouble, and we sure are in trouble.’ And people respond to that," she has told sydneyanglicans.net.
Ms Nicolios knows some of their trauma herself. From her own parish, two sisters aged 21 and 22 were killed when they were trapped in the family home.
"To lose these two beautiful girls, for us is such a tragedy. Another family who have come to one of our July school holiday programs all perished in their home as well. So it's touching everybody, and it's just horrendous," she relates.
"This is the urban rural fringe of Melbourne, and so it's a very strongly-knit community and everybody knows everybody."
Donations overwhelm stricken churches
The parish of Whittlesea, which includes the Kinglake church building burnt to the ground last Saturday, has reportedly been overwhelmed with donations, which first filled their op shop, and then their church building and hall, according to the Diocese of Brisbane’s report.
Shipping crates have had to be used as mobile containers for the donated goods, which have been given by individuals and businesses.
"This community spirit doesn't really surprise me. Everyone has been touched by this tragedy in some way but here in Whittlesea everyone knew someone who has either lost their life or their property, or who had miraculously escaped the flames,” Whittlesea vicar, the Rev Stephen Holmes said.
"What we are trying to do here is provide not just a short term focus but a longer term assistance program. We want to ensure that survivors and their families are not forgotten. One idea is an educational fund to provide ongoing financial support for the children. The media will move on from this story but we will be around as a supportive and caring Anglican Community well into the future."
St John's Diamond Creek has become the third depot in the area for receiving clothing and food, and is also arranging teams of volunteers to help at the relief centre as they are needed.
"Obviously our people are praying but they also need practical things to do to help, so they've put their names down as volunteers and they've donated heaps of stuff. But I think we'll have a role of caring for people pastorally as time goes on, so we need to be ready for that," Ms Nicolios says.
The church has also set up a memorial on its front lawn, where people can write messages with the textas and cards provided, and leave flowers.
"We're a community that belongs to the Lord and trusts in Jesus and that wants to offer God's love to our community and the hope we have in him " that's what it's all about," she says.
Longterm, the church's role in recovery will be determined by the Victorian Council of Churches' emergency plan for recovery and follow-up, which has the endorsement of the Department of Human Services.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced yesterday in Parliament that there will be a national day of mourning, along with a memorial service to be organised by the National Council of Churches.
How Sydney is helping
The Archbishop's Emergency Bushfire Appeal, launched on Monday has sofar raised $69,174, all of which will be given to the Diocese of Melbourne to support ministry and pastoral care in affected areas.
NSW Governor Marie Bashir "gave her own words of greeting and sympathy" and Shane Fitzsimons from the Rural Fire Service provided an update on the firefighting progress at St Andrew's Cathedral's bushfire prayer service on Wednesday night, senior minister, the Rev Chris Moroney said.
He estimates around 30 of the 260 people who came along were members of the general public, many of whom had relatives and friends affected by the fires.
The Rev Mark Charleston led prayers for the bushfire victims, the perpetrators, the emergency services personnel and for gospel ministry in the affected areas, and over $3000 was raised for the Archbishop's Bushfire Appeal.
Meanwhile over 100 people turned up to St Andrew's Roseville's prayer service, which raised over $4,000 for the appeal.
Similar services have been held at other churches around the Diocese, including St Philip's, York Street and Figtree Anglican Church.
