by Geoff Robson, Anglican Media Sydney
As flood waters continue to cover much of rural NSW, Anglican churches throughout the state are coming together to help locals pick up the pieces in the wake of the disaster.
Flooding has affected a substantial part of the state over the past week, causing tens of millions of dollars worth of damage to farmland, property and businesses, particularly in the country NSW dioceses of Armidale and Bathurst. As emergency services begin to count the cost of the disaster, Archbishop Harry Goodhew, Metropolitan of NSW, has contacted representatives from the affected regions to pledge support from Sydney Diocese for the flood relief efforts.
"The Archbishop of Sydney’s Appeals Unit has been in touch with the Bishop of Armidale and the Administrator of the Diocese of Bathurst, indicating its willingness to assist as much as possible in their ministry to the people in this difficult situation," said Rodney Dredge, director of the Archbishop’s Appeals Unit. "At this present time, circumstances are such that they are waiting to see precisely what type of aid they will require. But as soon as local advice is received, the Archbishop’s Appeals Unit will help wherever it can."
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Rev Roger Herft, has also extended a similar offer of aid to the affected regions.
Across the state, many areas have been affected by the flash floods. Hundreds of properties in the township of Wee Waa have been cut off and may remain isolated for days, with access only available by helicopter. The town of Wooloomin has been left without sewage and drinking water, while around 40 homes in Gunnedah have been evacuated, with more evacuations expected in Narrabri.
Yesterday, after inspecting the flood-ravaged areas, NSW Premier Bob Carr told Parliament, "A third of the state is under water. Yesterday I declared the northwest, the Hunter and northern tablelands natural disaster areas. I have just extended the areas to include the areas of Lachlan Valley and Murray division." Latest figures say that clean-up costs across the state are expected to go beyond $60m, while the total value of lost crops has been estimated at around $600m.
The Federal Government has also weighed in, with Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson announcing that $10m of funding has been made available immediately. Further government assistance is likely to provide food for struggling families and help farmers plant new crops.
Bishop of Armidale, the Rt Rev Peter Brain, says the church has provided food and drink to locals, as well as offering counselling to shell-shocked residents. "Our ministers are on the lookout for people in need and have been ringing around to let them know they are available to help. Once the floods go down, there will be the counselling and the long-term process of getting beside people. Hopefully it will provide more opportunities for people to minister to others," he said.
But Bishop Brain believes the floods are likely to have a profound effect on the churches themselves and on the life of the diocese, particularly affecting smaller rural parishes that will suffer through reduced cash flow. "Obviously right now people are in survival mode, but the question will be whether they can survive another day to put in another crop," he said.
It is also becoming increasingly apparent that many people may be forced to leave their land and their parish, or at the very least take on a reduced role within the parish as they find their feet in the aftermath of the flooding. The Rev Peter Danaher, Administrator of the Diocese of Bathurst in the NSW Central West, said this would have a major effect on the life of many congregations.
According to Mr Danaher, for many people the floods will mean not only a huge loss of income, but will also leave them with little or nothing to show for a year of hard work, meaning the floods are about more than just losing money. "People are talking about having to walk off the land," he said. "This would be a devastating thing – it will affect people’s very understanding of who they are, their self-worth and their sense of identity.
"The church needs compassion and understanding to value them as people. We need to tell them they are loved by God, not for what they do for a job, but because of who they are. They might be having a tough time, but the God who loves them never stops loving them."
Archbishop Goodhew has led calls for people across the Diocese and the state to pray for those people having to cope with the effects of the flood. "With almost a third of New South Wales presently affected by flood waters, this situation will affect us all. At this time, we should be supportive of each other, and particularly of those directly affected, both in prayer and wherever possible in action."