Salvation Army Emergency Services Letter To The Editor

Dear Editor,

There is nothing quite like an Australian Summer.

Between the comforting warmth, the adventure of being outdoors and the enjoyment of sharing in the Christmas and New Year seasons, there is something very special about this season in Australia.

However, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

In fact, traditionally this season is responsible for some of the most devastation, heartbreak and destruction that we will see all year.

Unsurprisingly, the cause of so much heartbreak are our natural disasters.

We at The Salvation Army know this all too well.

Our Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) team are stationed around the country ready to spring into action whenever a disaster hits; whether it be fire, flood, cyclone, earthquake, or any number of physical disasters, the Salvos are there.

Our dedicated team of staff and volunteers have been around for decades, over 130 years in fact.

We were there during the 2019 Black Summer bushfires, the 2022 floods in Queensland and NSW, Cyclone Tracy, the Granville Train Disaster and the Thredbo Landslide, just to name a few.

As we look towards the upcoming disaster season, The Salvos are preparing, but we need the support of the Aussie public to help us do this.

We need 1000 Aussies to sign up to volunteer with the SAES by the start of summer, to ensure we can meet the needs of the community wherever a disaster might strike.

During a disaster, The Salvos are responsible for providing meals and refreshment to first responders and evacuees, as well as material needs for displaced community members.

We also are there for people, offering a listening ear, a compassionate hug, and a shoulder to cry on.

Being a volunteer with the SAES is a profound experience.

It is immensely rewarding personally, but also makes an incredible difference to those in some of the most harrowing circumstances following a disaster.

During a disaster, when people see the Salvos volunteers, they see people with friendship and hope to offer.

As a volunteer, you can be a part of that.

Signing up as a volunteer is serious business.

Our staff are able to help you through the application process which involves interviews, reference checks and police checks.

There is online training, and you could be called on during a disaster in your area at any time throughout the year.

While we want Aussies to thoughtfully consider becoming a volunteer with us, we also want them to know that we will find a way for you to contribute significantly.

Please consider joining our SAES family and help us to support those who aren’t able to support themselves.

To sign up as a volunteer for The Salvation Army Emergency Services, or for more information, visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/emergency-services/

Daryl Crowden Head of Salvation Army Emergency Services

• Topics:

• Letters To Editor
• Volunteering
• Emergency Services
• Community Groups