After the Bushfires

A Story of Survival and Care
by Rev Glynis Dickins  

I think you have probably heard and read enough horror stories of the ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires. Having said that, the people who lived through this terrible day are still struggling to come to terms with such an ‘enforced dislocation’ of their lives and processes of re-adjustment will continue for many years to come, all with their resultant stresses. We all know about and appreciate the many and sustained efforts of help and practical support from big churches and organisations, but you probably haven’t heard so many of what I suspect are many small things happening behind the scenes. This is one wonderful story of care, and it all happened long after the media spotlight has mostly moved on from ‘fire stories’.

Recently I enjoyed the privilege of meeting up with a handful of ladies and the families of some, who survived the fire with only their most precious commodity – their lives. Thanks to the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Penrith Baptist Ladies needlework Group, I was able to meet and bring some joy and encouragement in the lives of these people who had lost their homes and all their lives’ work fleeing form the worst bushfires in Victorian history.

Earlier in this year of tragedy, a number of small churches contacted me directly, expressing their desire to help out families affected by the bushfires, without going through the major charities. So, we have been able to present cheques to a handful of people from funds sent through our church account. But this offer was different. Some weeks ago, Neil Checkley, pastor of Penrith Baptist rang me to say that the ladies of his church had put together some bits and pieces of sewing and craft supplies – and a sewing machine. They wanted these things given to ladies who had lost such things in the fires. Judy, a member of my church, whose daughter and her husband had lost their home at Kinglake eventually organised for us to meet the Kinglake ladies, who we knew would love to receive such gifts.

Just before our visit to Kinglake, Neil and Shelley Checkley kindly drove to Melbourne, their car absolutely packed to the roof with all the goodies. We spent a wonderful afternoon together. Neil and Shelley were keen to hear more about what happened and how people are being cared for since the fires. Then we spent some time-sharing some of the blessings and challenges of life in a small church. After spending some time with Neil’s brother, they drove back to NSW over the next couple of days.

A week or two later, Judy and I drove up to Kinglake where we met at Jodie’s ‘hut’ – a large ‘packing case’ in the ‘village’ where Jodie and her family are living (beside many other families) until their house is rebuilt. Jodie has a four-year-old boy at kindergarten, and another little boy of 11 months. This one, Austin was born prematurely just before the bushfires. With car packed and children and dog onboard, Jodie and her husband fled the fire, only minutes ahead of the inferno. Barely weeks after the fires, Jodie’s little boy Austin suffered what specialists now think was a stroke. This means that Austin has suffered quite severely from developmental delay. At 11 months, he is only just sitting up by himself, thanks to an especially supportive little baby seat. And, Jodie is pregnant again … She is a keen sewer and has always made things for herself and her children, so the gift of a sewing machine was something beyond belief for her. Then there are the gifts of sewing supplies, and craft that went with the machine. The ladies were just ‘blown away’ at the extent of the Penrith ladies’ generosity.

The girls enjoyed a wonderful morning of going through the bags. It was so much fun! We also met Jane, mother of two boys at school. With car packed and children on board, Jane and her husband also escaped from the fire with only minutes to spare. Jane was also very grateful for gifts received. We also caught up again with Carmen, who suffered the loss of house and possessions. The girls specially loved the scarf and coathanger packs that were among the many things so thoughtfully put together by the Penrith ladies.

Some things were then left for other ladies in the Kinglake Village, and then Judy and I set off to visit another family who had escaped the St Andrews fire by about five minutes. The mum and girls in this family are particularly interested in craft, and were thrilled to receive not only sewing materials and craft packs, but also knitting and crochet materials, wool and cotton, needles and patterns. Three packs of wool for jumpers have been left with this family with a promise that if those jumpers don’t have enough knitters, then, being a knitter myself, I will gladly help out with knitting them!

Judy and I experienced the most wonderful day. It’s so good to hear their stories again while sharing in appreciation of those who have lost everything and see their enjoyment in gifts from other people, especially from distant but caring strangers. So, on behalf of all the families, we thank the ladies of Penrith Baptist Church so very much for all your work and thoughtfulness in putting together such practical and helpful gifts for our people who have lost so much. And we thank Neil and Shelley Checkley for driving everything down to Melbourne for us to distribute.

Rev Glynis Dickins is the pastor of Plenty Valley Baptist Community Church.