Lucky country
Monday, March 18 was 12 months on from the black Sunday that changed the lives of many in Tathra. Those in the direct path had no alternative but to leave, while those under ember attack did the right option staying and saving many homes. That is what AJ, his son Sam, and Jill and I did, saving AJ's home.
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The sun rose on Monday to see the Good Samaritan semitrailer stationed at St Martins By The Sea, a chaplain, plus a team of trained people for such occasions from Queensland, Victoria and the Blue Mountains. They hit the ground running, the chaplain immediately to work under my guidance and the first stage of the recovery was away.
We are a lucky country. Yes we lost homes, but there was no loss of life, the spirit was not daunted.
Within a few days the Rubicon team likewise went into recovery mode, and more were soon added by the Good Samaritan team - another example of a lucky country was shown to all at Tathra.
The places designated for food, clothes and all things needed after all was lost became so full, the pet food filled a whole room, likewise goods of all kind just poured in to these depots. More and more trained personnel arrived and with the fire fighters, the SES, the police working in the early stages of the fire, these wonderful people set a platform for the other teams to work on and expand the recovery.
Now 12 months on with one home completed and others under construction the recovery is progressing, but to my mind it will be years before we return to that beautiful seaside village. The people who lost their homes will ever remember that day when the smoke came over the river and flames and wind destroyed 64 homes, leaving 64 families forever mindful of the day.
Homes are on the road to recovery, but residents are still hurting with their loss. Each person will need spiritual care and comfort. If this is you, please reach out to your church, to me as a trained pastoral carer, for help. I will gladly assist to lessen the burden. Recovery is slow, but help is as near as your phone.
Yes we are the lucky country.
Allen Collins, Tathra
We can do better, we must
Given the recent debate about the destruction of signs welcoming refugees to the Bega Valley, and the attacks against Muslims in New Zealand, I feel compelled to write and express my deep concerns about the role of racism and intolerance in breeding extremism and violence.
Inflammatory rhetoric that demonises a religion or one segment of the population only serves to create a divide which is difficult, if not impossible, to bridge. I would urge everyone that complained about the erection of the signs, to honestly examine their conscience; to put yourselves in their shoes and just take a minute to think about what it would be like to try and escape from a country where you were persecuted.
I am no fan of Islam nor am I a follower of any religion, but I am a defender of justice and fairness. Of treating others as I would want to be treated. That should be the basis of our humanity. Not violence. Not racism.
We can do better, Australia. Indeed, we must, else we will breed more division and violence. That is not where I want our country to head.
Lisa White, Kameruka
Not time for division
During the events of this last week, including the school kids' strike for climate action and the Christchurch terror attack, I've found myself repeatedly stunned at the breakdown of our society into groups of 'us' and 'them'.
The school kids' strike for climate action, in my opinion, is one of the most hopeful and optimistic events in recent times. We hear from our elders, time and time again, how young people these days are disengaged, lazy, afraid of hard work and entitled. Yet when these same young people assemble en masse, fighting for the future of our planet - the only planet we have - they are mocked, patronised and berated for their actions.
We should be celebrating the collective conscience of these kids who are brave enough to speak out; who care for their world and their future; who want to preserve and protect our beautiful natural environment. What an amazing thing to believe in so passionately at such a young age! These are the people who will manage our country in 20 years. We should be celebrating their engagement and interest so that we don't lose them to the cynicism and finger-pointing of contemporary adulthood.
The Christchurch terror attack initiated the same dichotomous outrage. While (at least) 50 innocent people were lost to their families - children, old people, parents - lines were drawn and values placed. As religion and race took centre stage, we overlooked a simple truth: we all share the same basic right to be safe in our own neighbourhoods; to be accepted in our broader communities regardless of our skin colour or preferred deity; to walk the streets freely and without fear.
We are all someone's child, we share the world. These are not times for division or blame, but rather for banding together in the face of hate and proving that our humanity is greater.
I hope that one day, in the not-too-distant future, we will celebrate young people who care for their natural world and think of a future that exists outside of capitalist greed. I hope that one day we will stand together, shoulder to shoulder, regardless of race or religion and recognise each other as citizens of the world.
Otherwise, we might leave our children with nothing but our tears for the world that we devastated in spite of their best efforts.