Flood response: message from the Archbishop
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“The community’s overwhelming response to the 2011 floods showed how south-east Queenslanders pull together at times such as this. So I again encourage members of our Diocesan family to offer a helping hand in the massive clean-up. Our faith communities are already showing the resilience and generosity that we have come to rely upon in such weather events,” says Archbishop Phillip Aspinall
Dear sisters and brothers,
It is with heavy hearts that we have witnessed south-east Queensland and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales impacted by floods and storms in the last week. My prayers go out for all those who have been affected, especially those who have lost loved ones or whose homes and businesses have been damaged.
The community’s overwhelming response to the 2011 floods showed how south-east Queenslanders pull together at times such as this. So I again encourage members of our Diocesan family to offer a helping hand in the massive clean-up.
Our faith communities are already showing the resilience and generosity that we have come to rely upon in such weather events. For example, we have seen the Parish of Noosa assist the Parish of Gympie with the cleaning up of their badly flooded op shop; Anglicare and the Parish of Indooroopilly giving out new clothes through Thread Together; The Southport School offering facilities to other schools and assisting more widely with the clean-up; Community of The Way members cooking, packing and handing out hot meals to rough sleepers in the Brisbane CBD and West End despite being without power at St Francis College where they are based; Mission To Seafarers continuing to deliver items to isolated seafarers despite the port being closed due to flooding; and, Bishop Daniel Abot and other South Sudanese and Sudanese Anglican Ministry members exploring options to assist our parishes and the wider community.
These are just a few inspirational examples. I acknowledge all of our Diocesan community members who are helping. I also thank the emergency services and the SES for their excellent sacrificial work.
I encourage all of you to assist in some way. You might call on a neighbour or a friend or a family member or consider registering as an emergency volunteer with Volunteering Queensland, which is working with the following Councils to coordinate responses:
- Brisbane City Council – Mud Army 2.0
- City of Gold Coast Council – Gold Coast Flood Clean-up
- Ipswich City Council – Ipswich Flood Recovery
- Logan City Council – Logan Legends
- Moreton Bay Regional Council – Moreton Army
- Fraser Coast Regional Council
As we have seen in the news or heard from friends and family, Lismore in New South Wales has been severely impacted by flooding. The Bishop of Grafton, The Right Rev’d Dr Murray Harvey, has requested circulation of information about Anglicare North Coast’s 2022 Lismore Flood Appeal for tax deductible donations. Contributions will be used to provide direct support to affected households. If you are in a position to give to this appeal, please ensure you reference “Lismore 2022” when donating.
Let us renew our trust in God, “our refuge and strength” (Psalm 46), and remain confident in God’s grace as we move through the days and weeks ahead.
The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall AC
Archbishop of Brisbane
Editor’s note: If you would like to share a story about how you have helped or been helped in the wake of the recent floods and storms, please contact the Editor Michelle McDonald via focus@anglicanchurchsq.org.au.
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