In the kitchen: Hank and Rin Moritz, with home-owner Catherine Kearney, Nic Kuiper and team leader Brianna Lick work to restore Ms Kearney’s home.
Photo by
Michael Lloyd
Rochester residents are lucky to have the volunteers from the Samaritan’s Purse fix their homes from November to early December.
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Fortunately for Catherine Kearney, the Samaritans were able to assist with the recovery of her home that was damaged due to floodwater.
“They came to my residence last Thursday, and with all their hard work, I haven’t had the smile off my face. They’re incredible people. They have brightened my day,” Ms Kearney said.
“When they first came on Thursday with four people to paint my house. They realised they didn’t have enough people, so Gary made a call, and within 10 minutes, an additional four people came to paint my home. By 3:30, the entire house had been repainted.
The floods went as high as a foot inside Catherine’s home, with the plaster needing removal. The volunteers could replace the plasterboard and repaint them in a day.
“Brianna and co have now assembled the kitchen cupboards.”
Good works: Dan Stephens, Antoinette Kuiper and Marg and Gary Adams, who will be in Rochester until December 9.
Photo by
Michael Lloyd
While many residents are grateful for the tireless work, Gary Adams and Dan Stephens work behind-the-scenes to coordinate the workforce.
“We did assessments for the first two weeks and started work last Monday, November 13. We currently have 120 jobs and completed 22 of them,” Mr Adams said.
“We have about 35 people here helping on this deployment. But once the work is done, all the volunteers return to their homes. With some of them having come from Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.”
The volunteers coordinate with local groups and the council to help residents overcome the last few years.
“Most referrals have been via Anglicare and the Campaspe Shire Council,” Mr Adams said.
“My wife has an office where she can process the applications daily.”
Most retirees are from around Australia, including Queensland, NSW and South Australia, with the 35 volunteers dividing themselves among four teams performing various tasks around homes.
Here to help: The Samaritan’s Purse ensures they have high visibility while also serving the communities in which they’re deployed.
Photo by
Michael Lloyd
“The teams work on gardening, painting, kitchen installation or general cleaning,” Mr Adams said.
“Campaspe Shire Council are happy with the work we are doing.
“They provide us with the details of the resident, and we, in turn, contact them and do the work, and the council are thrilled in that regard.”
While the volunteers work to aid the recovery, it wouldn’t be possible without the help of Dan Stephens.
“I’ve been a staff member of Samaritan’s Purse organisation for the past 12 years. Most of my work has been abroad or in the US.
“In 2020, I was asked if I would be prepared to coordinate some relief efforts in Australia.”
The organisation has faced numerous challenges in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, with the group standing resolute despite the chaos.
Converted: A horse float acts as a walk-in trailer for all the on-the-ground equipment recovery projects might need.
Photo by
Michael Lloyd
“The work is challenging, but we are meeting people who have been going through the most terrible experience of their lives, where their properties have been destroyed,” Mr Stephens said.
“For a full recovery to occur, it’s probably at least two to three years. And with 13 months having elapsed.”
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