Victorian Bushfires
On Black Saturday we remember and celebrate
A year on from the devastation of Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires we not only remember those whose lives were lost, but we celebrate the communities who continue to overcome adversity in their ongoing journey towards closure and restoration.
The Salvation Army has been working hand in hand with local communities as they realise new dreams, rebuild homes and celebrate the bonds of friendship and family.
To mark a year of tragedy and triumph, The Salvation Army has released the Victorian Bushfire Response Report.
The rebuild is still continuing with projects taking place all over Victoria. If you would like to donate to the efforts, you still can by filling out our donation form.
So what has been happening so far? You can read some of the stories we’ve gathered together from throughout the year of what has been happening on the ground in bushfire-affected areas.
Here are some of those stories:
Seymour team keeps on truckin'
Centre providing support for the long term
The Salvation Army helps bring some Christmas cheer
Volunteers assist with rebuilding fences
Seymour team keeps on truckin' 
Since opening in the week following the February bushfires, The Salvation Army’s Seymour warehouse has been the coordination point for much of the material and psychological aid in the Murrindindi and Mitchell Shires.
The site’s operations, run by the region’s Pathways Bushfire Recovery Program, support communities from Wallan to Alexandra, and as far south as Flowerdale.
Central to the work run out of this office is the material aid delivered twice-weekly from the warehouse. Michael Doyle, warehouse supervisor at Seymour, said that current items in demand included fridges, kitchen appliances and beds. While demand fluctuates, currently around 30 requests for material aid are received each week. Earlier in the year, there were periods in which over 100 requests were being received each week.
The truck deliveries not only provide material relief, but also an opportunity for residents getting their lives back on track to chat and receive further support. For this reason, Jodie Harris, a community development and outreach worker with Pathways, and other support staff often go on the delivery rounds to provide emotional support and to connect victims with additional services.
Visits to affected residents not only assist those people in their recovery journey, but also provide The Salvation Army’s Pathways staff and volunteers with important information about the most pressing issues and needs of people in need. This information can then be used to determine future programs and activities to coordinate, as well as people to visit in future.
Despite the constant flow of material aid from Seymour since almost immediately following the fires, it is expected to continue to be coordinated from the Seymour warehouse for approximately the next twelve months.
Centre providing support for the long term 
Whittlesea has been at the epicentre of the bushfire response since it became an emergency services staging ground on 7 February 2009. However, the activities coordinated from the town have changed as the needs of people affected by the fires have evolved.
Simon Smith, a chaplain with The Army, has been based at the Whittlesea Bushfire Recovery Centre since August. In his time there, he has witnessed the community’s recovery continue on its long and winding road. He says the constant pressure from the recovery process is taking its toll on bushfire victims. “We are now seeing people starting to hit the wall,” says Simon.
Maintaining a constant presence has been imperative to building strong relationships with members of the community. Simon says being a familiar face has encouraged affected residents to open up to him and other Salvation Army representatives. Libby Matkin, also based at the Whittlesea Bushfire Recovery Centre, and Simon both spend several days each week up the mountain in addition to their work in Whittlesea, with Libby providing financial counselling to residents who have requested support or have been referred to her.
Looking forward, the Whittlesea Bushfire Recovery Centre will continue to adapt itself to meet the current and future needs of the region. As well as continuing to provide material aid, such as clothing, the focus has been switching towards further psychological and expertise support. The current building will also continue to be refurbished to support a drop-in centre style area, where people can come in to discuss their situation and needs, or just to have a chat and a cuppa.
The Whittlesea Bushfire Recovery Centre is located at 38 Laurel St, Whittlesea.
The Salvation Army helps bring some Christmas cheer
In December 2009, The Salvation Army delivered a Christmas gift initiative to people whose homes were lost or severely damaged in the Black Saturday fires. These were distributed to residents through The Salvation Army’s four bushfire recovery centres, located at Seymour, Whittlesea, Traralgon and Healesville.
The initiative was very well received by residents going through a difficult time of having Christmas without loved ones or their homes, as well as being confronted by another bushfire season and the first anniversary of Black Saturday.
Garrison Pearse, Bushfire Projects Manager with The Salvation Army, said that demand for the Christmas gift was so high that one relief centre had to replenish its supplies within only a few days of the launch. The Whittlesea Bushfire Recovery Centre reported seeing over 50 clients each day in relation to the initiative.
Bushfire recovery teams worked tirelessly to distribute the Christmas gifts and were deeply touched by the feedback given by recipients. Many recipients were emotional and all were extremely grateful. They also passed on their thanks to everyone who donated to The Salvation Army’s bushfire appeal in early 2009 and made the Christmas gift possible.
Around $1.5 million was assigned to the initiative, which provided some respite at a difficult time for many families.
Volunteers assist with rebuilding fences 
The Samaritan’s Purse fencing trailers, sponsored by the Salvation Army, continue to assist property owners rebuild fences destroyed by the Black Saturday fires.
Working in conjunction with Blaze Aid volunteers, Accenture staff spent a day out of the office, rebuilding fences on an affected property near Kinglake. The replacement of fences provides affected residents with a secure space for livestock and contributes to the recovery of local industry.
The Salvation Army has sponsored nine Samaritan’s Purse fencing trailers, working around Bendigo, Gippsland, Marysville, Kinglake and adjoining communities. Each trailer contains tools, materials and all other materials needed for fencing.
Other companies that have provided volunteers to assist with fencing projects include Optus, Ford, ANZ, The University of Melbourne and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The Salvation Army coordinates volunteer groups to assist in areas of need. To register the interest of your group or organisation, contact Glenyse Guinan on (03) 8878 2408, or glenyse.guinan@aus.salvationarmy.org.