Greater Springfield Rotary continue to work in partnership with Ipswich City Rotary to provide assistance to many forgotten flood victims in the Ipswich area.
Earlier in the year when several suburbs of Ipswich were inundated with flood water there was an excellent response from the community and local authorities. But as months have passed and the cleanup has been completed life has not returned to normal for the many victims that either lost their homes or suffered significant damage, Repairing of homes in ongoing and for those who were renting, or who had no insurance, finding a new place to live and replacing lost furniture, household items and clothes is an ongoing challenge.
In addition to helping with the initial response and clean up, Rotary has continued to seek out and assist those who remain most in need. Drawing on funds raised by the clubs and through Rotary disaster grants, the clubs of Greater Springfield and Ipswich City have been visiting flood victims and those most in need have been receiving assistance in replacing lost fridges, washing machines, and other key household essentials.
As Rowarn Luder of Ipswich City Rotary observed “Many flood victims remain unable to return to their homes. Repairs are taking a long, long time, and those that were without insurance are even worse off”. “We have visited people sleeping in friends’ garages, sleeping on friends’ couches, or living in their homes with no fridges, washing machines and limited furniture and bedding”. “Basically, these people lost everything in the floods and are having to start from scratch to rebuild their lives.”
Paul Roger, who was President of Greater Springfield Rotary at the time advises, that the current recovery project is focusing on identifying those most in need and helping them with white goods (fridges/washing machines) purchased from Rotary funding and getting them Rotary debit cards and GIVIT vouchers for purchasing bedding and other essential supplies. “We are visiting every potential recipient and doing appropriate due diligence to ensure we get them what they most need”. “The people we have helped so far, have been extremely grateful, not only for what they have received, but because Rotary did not forget them and spent time visiting and listening to them to understand their needs”.
The flood recovery project remains ongoing, with funds still available. The Ipswich clubs have developed an excellent working relationship with Ipswich City Council and GIVIT, and all the flood victims identified and assisted by Rotary have also been referred to the council for additional support services.
Here are a couple of photos of two of our happy recipients of white goods. Both recipients in the above photos gave their permission for the photo to be taken and used in Rotary articles.
Thank you, Rotary. ‘Living in a garage,
but now I have a fridge for when I find a new home’. 😊