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Uniting Church comes through after Cyclone Larry

North Queensland Presbytery Minister Rev Bruce Cornish
North Queensland Presbytery Minister Rev Bruce Cornish reports that while there has been significant damage to property and crops in the area between Cairns and Tully and up on to the Atherton Tablelands, no major damage to Uniting Church buildings and ministers and their families are safe and well..

There has been the most damage between about Fishery Falls in the north and El Arish/North Mission Beach in the south on the coast and in the Atherton/Malanda/Herberton region on the Tablelands.

A group of eight people from Townsville Uniting Churches and YWAM with generators and tarps tried to get through to the affected area on Wednesday but were turned back by flooding at Cardwell.

Their goal was initially to clear the trees so that Tully Minister Rev Carole Young could get out of her home at Bingil Bay.

On Friday the team were able to get through to Tully and Mission Beach and give the Youngs a generator and some support.

On Thursday Mr Cornish flew to Cairns and travelled down with another team to Innisfail on Friday morning where they were kept busy with chain saws and gloves and cane knives.

Mr Cornish reported that the Churches in Cairns have provided a lot of clothing, foodstuffs, towels and bedding which are spread out in the back of the Innisfail Church.

"They have also provided some generators one of which is at the manse and is also providing power to neighbours," he said.

"I stayed in Innisfail with Rev Glenn Loutitt and Collette and observed the excellent work he is doing in his role in the community where he is also a Police Chaplain.

"Collette, along with many others, has also been very busy supporting and encouraging and working behind the scenes.

"There is a great spirit in both Innisfail and the Tully area but I am also aware that there are signs of pressure, particularly as the days without mains power continue to go on."

Rev Leo Newell from Atherton on the Tablelands reported that while there is widespread tree damage and still no mains power in a number of areas, the structural damage to property seems to have been minimal.

All the Uniting Church congregations were able to worship together last Sunday.

Mr Cornish said that even Mission Beach which had a car park full of fallen trees on Saturday morning were able to worship after a team were able to clear it before Sunday morning.

"Rev Craig Mischewski was with Carole at the Mission Beach and Tully services and I was with Glenn and the Innisfail congregation on Sunday morning," he said.

"It was important to worship as a church family and to laugh and cry together."

Other Uniting Church ministers including Rev Hedley Fihaki and Pastor Anne Harley were also offering practical pastoral care in the devastated areas with axes, rakes and chainsaws.

Mr Cornish gave thank you to the many congregations and individuals in the north and beyond who have offered and given practical hands on support, goods and money, and prayers for the people in the cyclone affected areas.

Cairns Lifeline General Manager Terry Davidson and Townsville Manager Brenda-Anne Parfitt and their teams have been busy as part of the strategic response team providing crisis support initially and moving into other support as peoples needs change.

"That work will continue to be very much needed as time goes on and there will be the continuing need over the next few weekends for teams of people to go into the affected areas to help with the clean up of trees and houses as well as to provide a listening ear," Mr Cornish said.

There will be a celebration in Innisfail on Saturday 1st April called a “Kick Back Concert” as a morale boost for the Innisfail and district.

It will be focussing on families and young people and there will be people from the churches in Townsville and Cairns and from YWAM providing children’s activities as part of the programme.

Mr Cornish asked that people might please continue their support as the weeks and months unfold and requested prayer for those continuing to be affected by Cyclone Larry, the relief crews and workers, and the rebuilding efforts.

Photo : North Queensland Presbytery Minister Rev Bruce Cornish