Salvos battle for the bush

She says the survival of stores in struggling bush villages like Carinda are vital in keeping their communities positive and connected.

For residents of Carinda, the nearest supermarket is now 70 kilometres away in Walgett.

Maree and husband, Trevor, both majors with the Salvos, have just left Dubbo after about three years as rural chaplains covering a large area of the North West and west of the State.

They have moved to Canberra where Maree has taken up the newly-created role of consultant to the Salvos’ rural ministries across NSW and Queensland.

She hopes the job will allow her to continue identifying and providing rural people with the support, resources and services they need.

The Strongs spent about eight or nine months of the year on the road in their four-wheel-drive vehicle and off-road caravan during their rural chaplaincy visiting isolated towns and properties.

They also helped renovate Quambone’s store and post office (about 60 km south of Carinda) with the help of members from Canberra East Rotary Club and other volunteers.

Much of their time based at Dubbo was spent supporting people trying to recover from the consequences – both physical and mental – of droughts, floods and bushfires.

Maree was deeply impressed by the resilience of country people and said she was inspired by them, particularly the rural women she met.

“People don’t want us to solve their problems, they are just happy we have turned up and are willing to listen,” she said.

One of their toughest challenges was helping people hit by Coonabarabran’s horrific bushfires in early 2013.

While they left their home at Nambour on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast almost 40 years ago to join the Salvation Army, both have farm connections and Maree said working as a rural chaplain had been the highlight of her career.

The National Farmers Federation has endorsed the Salvos’ first Rural Appeal which will raise donations during February to help finance the work of the Salvos’ work in the bush.

NFF president, Brent Finlay, said farmers understood the importance of giving and receiving help when it was needed.

“Having supported farmers for more than 100 years we know rural communities go through times of plenty and times of need,” said Pam Wilkes from the Salvos’ Rural Support Services.

“If rural communities not suffering drought can get behind our rural appeal, they will be enabling us to grow our much-needed support services for regional communities, ensuring The Salvation Army will be there for them, and others, when times are tough.”

The Salvation Army has 12 rural chaplains covering most of NSW, ACT and Queensland.

Rural chaplains can help farmers and rural workers in a number of ways including offering financial help with bills, the delivery of donated goods and food hampers, emotional support, providing advocacy plus counselling and support during legal proceedings, illness, grief and loss.

The chaplains also liaise with other community and statutory bodies including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Local Land Services, the School of the Air, rural and remote mental health networks, NSW Department of Primary Industries and rural chaplains from other churches.

The Salvos' outback flying service covers about 2 million square kilometres of central and north Queensland operating out of Mount Isa and Dalby.

Visit www.salvos.org.au/rural or contact 13 72 58 to make a donation or to find out more.

If you need help or somebody to talk to, contact the Salvo Care Line, 1300 363 622.