With the ongoing need for emergency relief support, Healesville is just one of many such centres around Victoria. It is here that dedicated community aid organization volunteers from all support agencies come "face to face" with the growing number of bushfire survivors, and do their best to offer practical, holistic help to meet the multifarious personal needs. Coordinating the Salvos "heart to God, hand to man" front line mission action is Healesville's Salvo officer, Envoy Graeme Mawson (pictured right). The current responsibility is huge and the daily tasks are ever-growing, but be assured of this: Graeme is God's man for the moment! He is well equipped with Divine resource, and well supported by a team of volunteers with their 'sleeves rolled up' and their 'Christ-like compassion' on public display. To serve alongside Graeme and his team is a personal privilege.
As time goes on, I understand that these local emergency relief centres will (by nature) become recovery centres. Regardless of the designation, these centres are a vital refuge for the 'fire-affected'. A place where practical helps and personal grants are offered in supportive care and with compassionate grace.
Resounding echoes of Ruth 2:13 are evident in every personal contact: "...such grace, such kindness—I don't deserve it. You've touched my heart, treated me like one of your own. And I don't even belong here!"
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