QLD Floods

Recent Newspaper Articles:

THE QUEENSLAND TIMES - Crisis-care chaplains here to help

Josephine Gillespie | 28th January 2011

THEY are trained to provide comfort to those left devastated by trauma, and now a team of specialised crisis-care chaplains are using their expertise in the Lockyer Valley.

Based in Withcott, the 18 chaplains are currently dispersed throughout the region, “going where needed”.

The chaplains, from Chaplaincy Australia, are all experienced in dealing with situations that involve mass loss of life and have worked within Victorian communities since the Black Saturday bushfires.

Many also assisted following Cyclone Larry and the tsunami in Sri Lanka.

Chaplaincy Australia national training director Pastor Craig Maher said that the first wave of chaplains would finish their two-week stint on Saturday, with the next team of 18 to arrive Monday. “We knew that such an event would leave a lot of trauma which would demand crisis-care chaplains on the ground,” Mr Maher said.

“That has proven to be true."
“We have had teams in Murphys Creek and Grantham caring for those traumatised, including some of the families of the deceased."
“We are also regularly visiting families who still have family members missing.”

Disaster response chaplains in Laidley are Rickie Haupt, Margot McCrindle, Norma Lemon and Ray Lemon.
Photo by Rob Williams

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ARTICLE IN THE TOOWOOMBA CHRONICLE!

A TEAM of 13 New South Wales chaplains have hit the ground in the Lockyer Valley this morning to help devastated residents recover from last week’s floods.

Another 12 are on standby and will come to the region if needed.

The team will help people vent their experiences by listening to what they have been through.
Chaplaincy Australia NSW/ACT director Craig Maher said the team’s bus would be parked in Withcott and members would be helping in Postmans Ridge, Murphys Creek, Gatton and Grantham.

Pastor Maher said the chaplains were well-trained to respond to serious trauma. Many helped in the aftermath of the Victorian bushfires, the Samoan and Indonesian tsunamis and Cyclone Larry.

“In the next few days we will do an assessment of the trauma to people in the region,” Pastor Maher said.

UPDATES FROM THE QLD FLOODS on TWITTER:

Great to hear of the support ACC Churches are providing to their local communities. One ACC Church has been providing food and accommodation to more than 200 people.

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1st Deployment of Chaplains concludes tomorrow - next deployment of 13 NSW & 5 Victorian Chaplains heads to the Lockyer Monday.

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Lockyer Valley Chaplaincy Team spent part of the day with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott - who was incredibly impressed with our ministry

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Great day of ministry as we finalized our time in Murphys Creek. We spent time with Tony Abbott he thanked Chaplaincy Australia for responding so quickly and asked lots of questions about CA. He left us feeling very encouraged

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Team identified man of high suicide risk today. They were able to refer and gain assistance from mental health service & he's now cared for.

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Our chaplains getting ready to deploy across towns of the Lockyer Valley - proud of them!

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Team also assisting SES Fire Health Army workers to deal with what they have seen - so proud emergency service workers

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Chap. Tanya Byers - a children specialist - working with lots of kids @ Murphy's Creek Recovery Centre - thru play drawing many share trauma.

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Our Chaplaincy Team at Gattan was interviewed by 7:30 Report this morning. Story will be on ABC Monday night nationally - great exposure 4 CA.

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So proud of our Chaplains - TV & radio media doing a story on our teams effective care tomorrow: Others that's the key - caring 4 others.

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Our Crisis Chaplaincy Team did incredible work today literally ministered to several hundred people - were there to support as bodies found.

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Chaplains help in Lockyer Valley | Toowoomba News | Local News in Toowoomba | Toowoomba Chronicle

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So proud of our Chap Aust Team. Joined by 5 VIC Chaps tonight now making 18 on the ground. So thankful 4 Spring Street CC - care outstanding

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So thankful for Federal MP @Scott Buchholtz - Member for Wright - arranged Virgin Blue to provide free NSW & VIC Team airfares - amazing man

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Community support has been outstanding with literally thousands of volunteers helping clean up - massive task still to go.

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Team ministered to a number of families who have lost loved ones and some for that are still missing - many heart breaking stories.

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Interviewed by Channel 7 News, local papers & many radio stations - wonderful support for our chaplaincy team to be here to defuse trauma.

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NSW Chaplains ministered to many people in Murphy's Creek, Postman's Ridge Helidon & Withcot today. Devastation of floods wide spread.

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12 of our wonderful Disaster Response Chaplains plus myself are heading to Brisbane then to Toowoomba tomorrow morning - this deployment will be for 11 nights. Mark Bateman driving transporter up tonight as well. Appreciate all prayer support for our team.