N O R TH N S W CO N FE R E N CE N E WS
MAR
2012
Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon medals
ADRA responds to flooding in northern NSW days,” he says. “Moree Council and the various government and non-government organisations worked very effectively. We felt privileged to represent ADRA, and be part of such a close and friendly emergency response team.” Pastor Kosmeier says that a lot of the flying was done in cloud and rain on the way out and back. “It made for very interesting flying,” he says. “There was water everywhere — the rivers were chock-a-block full, and wheat and cotton fields were flooded. Some of the airports were closed because you couldn’t access them.” Pastor Kosmeier says the floods showed the value AAA has in being able to quickly and economically carry relief workers into remote or cut-off areas. “The disaster-affected people knew they weren’t forgotten, and help came quickly,” says Pastor Kosmeier.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia has responded to flooding in northern New South Wales (NNSW) in January and February. A persistent low-pressure trough brought a significant amount of rain to inland NSW. A number of teams of ADRA volunteers were flown out to the region by the Adventist Aviation Association (AAA) to assist at the evacuation centre established at Moree. More than 800 people registered at the centre during the crisis, with ADRA volunteers coordinating accommodation for around 200 people. Chris Olafson, ADRA Australia’s Director of Emergency Management, says, “Getting to the area by road was impossible, so the small Adventist Aviation plane was scrambled to get them to the hard-hit area. They worked to ensure any affected families had a dry and warm place to stay.”
The floods around the area affected a number of church families, with some suffering damage to their homes or property. Many were isolated by the flooding. Others had communication and electricity cut off. The house Natalie Rawson, a member of Narrabri Seventh-day Adventist Church, and her family were living in near Rowena was flooded on the first Friday in February. The house is inside a levy, and they had hoped it would keep the water out, but it came over the banks. The family had to be airlifted out. “Once we were up in the chopper, all we could see was a sea of water,” says Natalie. “Lots of things were under water on the property, although the water hadn’t gone over the level of the kitchen bench in the house. We had time to lift some things before we left.” (Continued on page 3)
Pastor John Kosmeier, President of AAA for NNSW, and Gary Fraser flew the teams up. The first team consisted of David Moran, Naomi Revelly and Pastor David Fletcher, who ministers to the Coonabarabran and Gunnedah Churches. Pastor Fletcher says, “I was truly blessed to be part of ADRA’s response to the floods. To be able to minister to those who were truly in desperate need was indeed a privilege and a blessing. We received overwhelming support from the Moree Seventhday Adventist Church — some of whom suffered flooding of their own homes and properties. In the midst of this great personal toll, they banded together to support our work for ADRA.” Terry and Stephen Heath, from Maitland Seventh-day Adventist Church, replaced the first team after they completed their three-day shift. Terry is the coordinator for ADRA’s disaster response in the Hunter region. “It was an interesting, yet exhausting, four
In this issue:
Page 2: From the President: The power of God to save Page 3: Staff and student numbers grow at Currawah Page 6: Bourke Church connects with community through children’s church N O RT H P O I N T // 1 Page 8: Wallsend helps set “Hope in Motion” with Big Day In experience
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