Amid the bush fire horror, a community spirit emerges

While there was a recent period of considerable and even torrential downpouring in New South Wales, many fires continue across the country. However, last weekend it was reported that the bushfires in NSW had been contained for the first time in almost six months.

The national death toll in this bushfire season was 33 at time of writing.

The UN has quoted media reports that over 18 million hectares have burned, destroying over 5,900 buildings including over 2,800 homes.

It was also indicated that in addition to human fatalities millions of animals are reported to have been killed.

To live through such a nightmare must be a traumatic experience. The effects of the forces of nature, when they take a certain course, can simply be unstoppable by our human efforts.

When such a national catastrophe occurs, political leaders must not only act out of concern but also must be seen to be doing so.

In the face of considerable public criticism, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison cut short a family pre-Christmas holiday in Hawaii, expressing with hindsight his regret for having gone away in the first place.

While Mr Morrison said he had been receiving regular updates on the bushfires disaster, he said he would be returning to Sydney as soon as could be arranged. He arrived back the next day on a commercial flight from Honolulu and immediately was at work.

However, ABC reported that during a press conference Mr Morrison said the government would not change its climate change policies, the government having been under pressure to develop a stronger emissions reduction target, beyond the promised 26% cut by 2030.

The BBC has reported Dr Richard Thornton, chief executive of the Bushfires and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre in Australia, as saying that while it was difficult in general to attribute climate change impacts to a specific event, particularly while the event is running, “what we do know is that the average temperature in Australia now is running about 1C above the long-term average”, with fire seasons now starting earlier and “the cumulative fire danger” in many areas growing.

A similar view was reported of Prof Glenda Wardle, an ecologist from the University of Sydney, who commented: “It’s not every weather event that is the direct result of climate change. But when you see trends... it becomes undeniably linked to global climate change.”

Nonetheless, Mr Morrison has announced the establishment of a new National Bushfire Recovery Agency, with an initial AUS$2bn (just over £1.05bn), to coordinate a national response to rebuild communities and livelihoods after the devastating fire-front had passed.

He said: “While the immediate focus for our emergency services and the Australian Defence Force is keeping people safe and defending against the fires hitting so many areas, we also need to be ready to hit the ground in communities where the fire-front has passed to help them rebuild.

“The Agency will ensure the work of state and territory governments is being supported and act as a ‘one stop shop’ central team to coordinate the response. We will do whatever it takes.”

Looking beyond the current crisis in this way will certainly give reassurance to those who have lost so much and who in many case will have to rebuild their lives in fundamental ways.

Yet the announcement of the establishing of the new agency came at the same time as a warning that the fires could continue for months.

Millions of Australian dollars have been donated to organisations involved in the relief effort, although there has been controversy over the process by which monies are being disbursed.

There has been much local volunteering to help in the crisis across the country and religious bodies in particular have been taking initiatives.

One example is the response of the Salvation Army which has said that its Emergency Services teams have been active in the bushfire crisis since September last year, with over 3,000 staff and volunteers active.

It recently reported having provided over 250,000 meals and over 240,000 light refreshments to first responders and evacuees, adding that 26 staff have been managing a dedicated telephone line for financial assistance.

Bishop Philip Huggins, president of the National Council of Churches in Australia, said in a message to the World Council of Churches that many people of faith are involved in helping in all kinds of practical ways.

The bishop was also quoted as saying ruefully: “Harder to discuss yet is the anger. Hotter, dryer summers are exactly what have been expected. Political ineptitude has left us more vulnerable than might have been the case.”

Across the denominations, prayers have been said addressing the needs of the situation and practical and spiritual support has been provided.

A situation such as has developed in Australia brings people together as otherwise would not have happened and a remarkable community spirit has truly come alive.

l Canon Ian Ellis is a former editor of The Church of Ireland Gazette