Behind the scenes with Red Cross
ACT Bushfires
On the evening of Saturday, 18th of January the Victorian Red Cross State Inquiry
Centre was activated to provide information regarding those who had been
evacuated from their homes in Canberra's suburbs.
Power to Canberra had been cut and there was no capacity within the ACT to
manage the number of inquiries from concerned relatives and friends. Within two
hours of activation and for several days following the tragedy, volunteers and staff
worked around the clock to trace the whereabouts of loved ones and re-assure
callers from around Australia and around the world.
VIC Bushfires
Within a week the threat had moved to Victoria and bushfires tore through the
Alpine Regions and north-eastern Victoria from mid January to early February
destroying over one million hectares of private and public land.
Over 400 Red Cross volunteers responded, with all major emergency services in the
division being activated for the first time since the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires.
Catering teams and coordinators provided an astounding 100,000 meals for fire
fighters and other emergency service workers throughout January and February,
first aid teams treated over 3,000 people, predominantly for smoke related injuries
and registration teams processed over 500 evacuees.
The Victorian Red Cross drew on discretionary funding to assist 6 families who lost
their homes in the bushfires and who found themselves in dire circumstances.
Australian Red Cross, Victoria President Mr Richard Stone said staff and volunteers
alike gave generously of their spare time in order to assist rural Victorians in need.
"In many cases, our staff and volunteers in the field worked for weeks on end
without a break. Many travelled to other parts of the state to help out and of course,
many sacrificed valuable holiday periods to ensure the safety of their fellow
Victorians" said Mr Stone.
-ENDS-
