Local charity hits the ground running

Four Reasons

Lending a helping hand in floods

Mount Gambier social worker takes her skills to the Riverland

A Mount Gambier social worker witnessed firsthand the impacts of the River Murray flooding on Riverland communities after volunteering for three weeks to support affected residents. ac.care Limestone Coast foster care service manager Sherri Winter was a welcoming and compassionate presence for residents seeking support at the Riverland emergency relief centre in Berri. Ms Winter was one of several ac.care staff deployed to emergency relief centres established in Berri, Mannum and Murray Bridge as part of an emergency response agreement between ac.care and the South Australian Housing Authority. Initially forging a connection with the lead flood response group, as well as forming an internal flood relief committee in early December, ac.care canvassed interest from staff regarding voluntary deployment to the relief centres as recovery officers.

Ms Winter travelled to Berri three times to offer support, starting with an initial eight-day stint in early December, followed by another eight days over the New Year period, returning for a third stay from January 9-15. Working as a relief officer in the makeshift hub at the Berri Senior Citizens Club, Ms