My first day back home comes 12 days after Cyclone Lam. My long holidays with mum are over and I am coming to terms with the reality of a sad community, where many are recognising a greater hand of protection over them, even though the landscape is battered and barren-looking - for a 'tropical isle'!
I am counting my blessings right now; My car was sitting at the airport like it had come off 'a show floor', washed and clean. It was rescued from many near misses of trees, sporting only one broken window in the canopy, a 'knock' at the top of the passengers door and a few small dents elsewhere; all small reminders of it's miraculous protection from cyclone Lam's fury. My driveway had been cleared the day before, just enough for my car to be parked under my home. Under my house, tossed items had been cleaned, rotten food from 2 freezers emptied, two patches of grass mown, all by the hands of Kaye, Craig, Ian and Jimmy. Inside the house is 'moy-mirr' with dust and 'specks' that cover everything - a job for the washing machine now.
How delightful it was to be greeted by 2 pied butcherbirds in my yard on my arrival. By the end of the first day I had counted a blue-wing kookaburra, a couple of peaceful doves, a friarbird, a small family of woodswallows, a pair of bower birds and 3 black-faced cuckoo shrikes. Each has made my heart skip to see such 'fragile' creatures alive. All were restless, looking around for something to eat. Dogs have survived too!
Yolŋu are counting their blessings too! Over the course of the day, I had a chance to hear many stories, whilst visiting just a few people. They recounted to me the care and support of three large cyclone shelters that housed many people that were otherwise not safe at home. As they gazed out in awe at their battered community the next day, they were amazed at how many large trees JUST missed homes with even the occasional mango tree still standing! Two sick people were able to be airlifted only hours before the community went into shutdown mode on the 17th February with no-one dying during the cyclone, nor were there any births to manage on that day/night! Praise God!
We will be having a Thanksgiving Weekend on the 14th March, but it has been declared that it will only be for the Galiwin'ku community, as it would be too difficult to host any other communities for the event. It will be a Thanksgiving Weekend with a difference, with the opportunity to thank God for protection of life this year.
The oval is being prepared as a 'tent city' for the homeless and it may be ready Wednesday or Thursday of this week. It was great to hear that the voice of senior Yolŋu members at Galiwin'ku is being involved in some decision-making processes now and the initial emergency work is being implemented. Much to be done!
I am counting my blessings right now; My car was sitting at the airport like it had come off 'a show floor', washed and clean. It was rescued from many near misses of trees, sporting only one broken window in the canopy, a 'knock' at the top of the passengers door and a few small dents elsewhere; all small reminders of it's miraculous protection from cyclone Lam's fury. My driveway had been cleared the day before, just enough for my car to be parked under my home. Under my house, tossed items had been cleaned, rotten food from 2 freezers emptied, two patches of grass mown, all by the hands of Kaye, Craig, Ian and Jimmy. Inside the house is 'moy-mirr' with dust and 'specks' that cover everything - a job for the washing machine now.
How delightful it was to be greeted by 2 pied butcherbirds in my yard on my arrival. By the end of the first day I had counted a blue-wing kookaburra, a couple of peaceful doves, a friarbird, a small family of woodswallows, a pair of bower birds and 3 black-faced cuckoo shrikes. Each has made my heart skip to see such 'fragile' creatures alive. All were restless, looking around for something to eat. Dogs have survived too!
Yolŋu are counting their blessings too! Over the course of the day, I had a chance to hear many stories, whilst visiting just a few people. They recounted to me the care and support of three large cyclone shelters that housed many people that were otherwise not safe at home. As they gazed out in awe at their battered community the next day, they were amazed at how many large trees JUST missed homes with even the occasional mango tree still standing! Two sick people were able to be airlifted only hours before the community went into shutdown mode on the 17th February with no-one dying during the cyclone, nor were there any births to manage on that day/night! Praise God!
We will be having a Thanksgiving Weekend on the 14th March, but it has been declared that it will only be for the Galiwin'ku community, as it would be too difficult to host any other communities for the event. It will be a Thanksgiving Weekend with a difference, with the opportunity to thank God for protection of life this year.
The oval is being prepared as a 'tent city' for the homeless and it may be ready Wednesday or Thursday of this week. It was great to hear that the voice of senior Yolŋu members at Galiwin'ku is being involved in some decision-making processes now and the initial emergency work is being implemented. Much to be done!
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