In times of need
It’s often said that The Salvation Army has a ministry of “presence” – of being there in times of need. Over the years the Kempsey community has suffered through significant floods (see photo above of flooded Salvation Army hall) and The Salvation Army has always been on hand to assist those affected.
In August 1949, Salvationists in Kempsey acted as search-and-rescue teams during the flooding. The Salvation Army newspaper, The War Cry, reported an eye-witness account: All around us, houses had been swept away, and were carrying people with them. We brought one man back to safety, and escaped ourselves by the skin of our teeth. Volunteers were again called to man a rowing boat and I was placed in charge. By the help of God, we made the stream and reached the first street of houses. We climbed onto roofs, cut out the tin and dragged people to safety before the waters submerged them … I called upon people to pray, and we sang ‘Pull for the shore; sailor’ in order to keep up hope in the people. God alone knows how we made nine trips across the deathtrap and brought back 65 people to safety – the last trip being made in darkness. The following day we were on the job again and managed to bring in another 60 people. As the waters subsided, Salvation Army officers, soldiers and volunteers from other areas came to help local Salvos to distribute food, clothing and the removal of mud from flooded homes.
When two tourist coaches collided head-on near Kempsey on 12 December 1989, The Salvation Army’s Emergency Service crews provided meals and support to the rescue workers. Garth R. Hentzschel writes in his book, With a Smile and a Cuppa, that the Kempsey Salvation Army also helped paramedics remove bodies from the accident, after which he debriefed the group of paramedics at the end of the day.
