[Dialogue] Greetings from Point Lonsdale, Victoria

[frank bremner]

G'day Marilyn and others
 
There are several ways of getting money to the Queensland government's flood relief fund.  This is a bi-partisan (or multi-partisan) group disbursing the funds collected, including the Australian Red Cross.
 
- www.qld.gov.au/floods for information on Mastercard or Visa transfers
- internet banking banking   BSB 064 013 and account number 1000 6800
 
The Salvation Army also has a fund that is collecting via supermarket checkouts etc.
 
I haven't heard from the former Sisters in Qld, other colleagues and friends there (eg Phil Dowsett, David Freeland et al) but I'm on the trail.
 
 
Susan Cole and I are returning to Adelaide from the ToP/ICA gathering, not by the Great Ocean Road, which is closed due to landslides.  We're going back through central western Victoria, via Ballarat and Horsham, then to Bordertown, SA, and on to Adelaide.  But, but, but ..... there has been flooding in central western Victoria, with some of Horsham inaccessible, sandbagging of houses and shops, and so on.  Tomorrow morning we'll see whether we get back onto the main highway or have to take a more circuitous route.
 
 
The whole affair has, of course, raised questions in the newspapers - about climate change, the frequency of such extreme weather, and whether more dams, more underground water storage, better drainage and so on should be built to prepare for further such incidents.  These events are being described as "once in 50/100 years".  I remember the widespread floods of the River Murray in the 1950s, which were featured in the feature film Newsfront, about the collapse of the newsreel in the face of TV News, which I saw in the USA in 1980.  
 
A few people have mentioned the floods and mudslides in South America, with a greater loss of life. 
 
One thing is obvious - how people of all backgrounds are helping each other with evacuation, shelter, the rescue of pets (and wild animals), sandbagging, emotional support and so on.  
 
Politicians have been on the ground: Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland, has promised an enquiry into the flood situation, the warnings from scientists, how the flood crisis was handled, the problems with house insurance (or lack of, or "small print"), and so on.  Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard, has been seen in Queensland, as has Governor-General Quentin Bryce.  Ted Bailleau, the new Liberal Premier of Victoria, cancelled out on opening an arts festival to visit Victoria's flood areas, and will be working with the federal Labor government on assistance.


To: dialogue at wedgeblade.net
Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2011 11:05:53 -0500
From: marilyncrocker at juno.com
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Greetings from Point Lonsdale, Victoria





Thanks so much, Frank.  Many of us would like to share with our local congregations where to send monetary support.  Could you recommend places?  Jeanette has got me started with folks in my church who are so deeply moved.  If you have places to add to the list, i would appreciate.
 
Many of us in New England lived with y'all in Australia  in the 70s and are standing strong with all of you in this outrageous crisis.
 
We love you!
 
M.
 

Marilyn R. Crocker, Ed.D
Crocker & Associates, Inc.
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
(207) 793-3711

  		 	   		  
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