Recalling the storm that grounded the Pasha Bulker, one Sydney Anglican says the ‘forgotten’ people she visited in the aftermath ‘couldn’t believe someone else cared’.
Fifty-nine-year-old mother of two, Beth King (pictured) from St Paul's Carlingford was one of the four Anglicare volunteers who travelled up to Newcastle to help victims of last year’s wild weather, which ground the Pasha Bulker and upturned countless homes along the Central Coast.
This month, Beth has joined 21 other Anglicare volunteers, who have been honoured with a State Medal for their service during the Hunter and Central Coast storms last year.
"We went out on the field with DoCS and Red Cross and doorknocked in an area that had been affected by the floods. We provided information and food parcels to those who might need them," Beth explains.
"We came across one mother who was caring for her intellectually disabled daughter in her 40s. Someone had come into her home during the evacuation, helped themselves to a sandwich and took all their family jewellery. We were able help her with food parcels and when we gave a teddy to her daughter the smile we received was just wonderful."
As the storms were predicted to move down to Sydney, Anglicare’s Disaster Recovery volunteers from parishes around the Sydney Diocese were called on to assist the SES and other agencies.
While Beth and three others assisted disastor recovery work in Newcastle, a team of 18 volunteers staffed the phones in Sydney.
Local SES volunteers responded to more than 2020 calls for help from the community during the week of the storms.
Recovering is a lonely road
Beth says she learned a lot about people during her day in the field.
"Many couldn't believe they were getting things for nothing when we knocked and many couldn't believe that someone else cared. It was two weeks after the storm had passed and a lot of people thought they were forgotten.
"It helped me realise how lonely and vulnerable people can be after a disaster. While the rest of the world may forget the storms after a week, the recovery from the devastation is ongoing. I knew God was guiding us during our time doorknocking."
How volunteers helped in Sydney
David Austin(pictured with Beth) and his wife Joy were part of a team in Sydney that staffed the SES hotline at Goulburn St police station throughout the night. Heavy weather was forecasted to hit the city and a warning had been sent out through the media.
"We were briefed on what was happening with the heavy weather that was set to come in from the coast and manned the phones at the police centre to give information to those who rang the hotline," explains David.
"We were kept up to date with Bureau of Meteorology reports and were able to provide information to people and alleviate a lot of their concerns."
To Doug Philpott Manager of Anglicare's Disaster Recovery program, volunteers like the Austins and Beth are crucial.
"All our disaster recovery ‘workers’ are volunteers and they bring a vast array of skills, capabilities and commitment to the task.
"Our role in disaster recovery is all about looking after people who have been affected by a disaster and helping them to restore their lives to some form of normality.
“By clearly showing the love of Jesus in all we do, we address their immediate needs and help build an understanding of Christian commitment to the community.
“Sometimes there are opportunities to respond directly to questions about faith. Sometimes there are opportunities to publicly demonstrate our community connections through community events and public services."
To anyone wishing to volunteer David says it is well worthwhile. "You certainly get a kick out of what you can do to help. You are not called out all the time and can refuse if you can't make it.
“You can also provide the community with the benefits of Christian care. Being a Christian, I know where I'm going, but we were commanded to do good things during our time here as well.
“God gives us a purpose and saves us for a purpose," he says.
