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MARCH 2015
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Baptistcare to the rescue Residents of Northcliffe in Western Australia’s South West recently faced the devastation of the largest bushfire to hit the region in decades.
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Photo: Department of Fire and Emergency Services
Baptistcare played a key role in the emergency by coming to the aid of Pemberton Hospital and a number of its patients. The Northcliffe bushfire raged for more than 12 days, burning over 90,000 hectares of land and threatening thousands of residents, homes and businesses. A state of emergency was declared on Monday 2 February as residents in the towns of Northcliffe and Pemberton were evacuated from their properties, with the blaze, which had been sparked by lightning, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. Anticipating the need to relocate hospital patients affected by the fire, Baptistcare staff from the Moonya residential aged care facility in neighbouring Manjimup contacted Pemberton Hospital to advise they had rooms and beds available for patients if required. Baptistcare staff continued to contact Pemberton Hospital each day to offer assistance as the out of control fire continued to spread to surrounding areas. The call was made on Wednesday 4 February, two days after the fire started, to evacuate six patients and transfer them to Moonya until the fire was under control. Conscious of the vulnerable state of the evacuated patients, Baptistcare staff worked tirelessly to ensure the patients were as comfortable as possible and received the highest level of care during their stay at Moonya. Many staff ended up working beyond their rostered hours to help where required and the onsite chaplain was available to
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Firemen assessing the Northcliffe fire in early February.
support patients and staff who were directly affected by the fire. Despite the state of emergency in the region, the six patients quickly settled into their new surroundings and were able to enjoy a time of peaceful recovery during their time at Moonya. One patient, Helmut Leunders, said he was very sorry to leave Moonya and would have liked to have stayed if he could. He told staff he loved the people and staff who were very welcoming and helpful. “They made me feel safe and I was able to rest and recuperate well,” Helmut said.
Another patient Eileen Hughes, said Moonya was one of the loveliest places she has stayed with lovely staff who are very kind and patient, and even great food. “It would be the only place I would go if I had to move,” Eileen said. As the State Emergency Service worked to bring the fire under control, the all clear was given for the patients to be transferred back to Pemberton Hospital via Home and Community Care transport on Monday 9 February. Identifying the demand for supplies in the community
during the crisis, Moonya Baptistcare staff also contacted the sports centre in Pemberton, which operated as an evacuation centre, to offer assistance and use of equipment such as beds and clothing. A bed was supplied to a Northcliffe resident who was displaced due to the destruction of the fire. Baptistcare has been providing quality aged care for members of the Manjimup and surrounding community at Moonya for many years, and is proud to have been able to assist the community during a time of crisis.
We are stronger when we work together.
BAPTIST CHURCHES WESTERN AUSTRALIA