Australasian Record
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WARBURTON, VICTORIA, JUNE 28, 1965 Volume 69 Number 26 Be Sure to Read: "SELF-HELP IN PAPUA" RAYMOND L. BOEHM, Page 2. ANSWERED THE TELE- PHONE. The voice on the other I end of the line was that of the Civil Defence Controller for the Ku- ring-gai Shire, Wing-Commander Abi- cair. He briefly explained that the New Greater Sydney Welfare van with volunteers from the Wahroonga Dorcas society preparing a meal South Wales headquarters of Civil for four hundred Civil Defence workers. Defence was planning a major training exercise for Civil Defence personnel in the Sydney area. Several hundred people would be involved. As well as Operation Civil Defence workers, a small boat section of the volunteer coastal patrol, Red Cross and medical personnel, in- WATERLIFT chiding the director of the medical and health services of Civil Defence, J. K. IRVINE would be co-operating. It was then Chief Welfare Officer, Ku-ring-gai Shire Civil Defence the Controller dropped his bomb-shell. He said, "I have agreed that Ku-ring- gai Welfare will provide a mobile wel- of the training exercise was to test the chosen for the exercise were Neilson fare team who will not only care for work of rescue teams from various Park and Robertson Park near Wat- the 'shocked' and 'walking wounded' municipalities and to demonstrate the son's Bay on the southern part of the casualties in the exercise, but will pro- work of a forward medical aid unit foreshore. The whole exercise was to vide morning and afternoon refresh- manned by doctors and nurses in a he as realistic as possible, with casual- ments and a mid-day meal for all of disaster area. ties "made up" with simulated injuries those involved. For the purpose of the exercise it and placed in difficult positions in was assumed that an area on one of some cases under debris, to test the in- "I know," the Controller went on, the peninsulas jutting into Sydney genuity of the rescue and first aid "that you have access to the Greater Harbour had been cut off by a major parties. All communications would be Sydney Conference's welfare van, and atomic explosion from any road access. by radio and as near as possible actual I am confident that the Adventist Survivors could be conveyed only by disaster conditions would have to be group will not let me down." boat across a section of the harbour; overcome. With the Deputy Welfare Leader and rescue and first aid parties were to We were rather dismayed to find for the Ku-ring-gai Shire, Mr. L. L. go in, seek out the casualties, and that with observers and umpires who Butler, I attended a briefing at civil transport them by small boats to a for- would check on the work of all sec- Defence headquarters in Kent Street, ward medical aid post set up about a tions, we would be expected to feed Sydney, and discovered that the object mile away across the water. Areas four hundred people: (Registered at the G.P.O., Sydney, for transmission by post as a newspaper) [2] 28/6/65 THE AUSTRALASIAN RECORD After the briefing we made contact with organize a complete self-contained unit Boroko, with £60 for the second Sunday Pastor L. J. Kent of the Greater Sydney under the church's own leaders to volun- from the residential section of Port Conference, who was happy indeed for teer for service with Civil Defence. In Moresby. Surely the Lord blessed these us to use the mobile welfare van with all this way the unit preserves its identity as young Christians in their service for Him. its facilities. Mrs. Herbert White, the an Adventist unit and can be of inestim- In Port Moresby, Pastor Gapi and a Dorcas Welfare Leader of the Wahroonga able value to Civil Defence for service in group of boys introduced the Appeal for church, was asked to assume responsibility times of major disaster, whether caused Missions to the Papuans living in a newly for the organization of a team of ladies to by floods, fires, explosions, or by the holo- developed area of Hohola. After seeing care for the catering. caust of war or atomic explosions. the magazine and the need that still ex- At this stage Brother Kent, in a mo- ists in the outer areas of the Territory, ment of inspiration, suggested that we au Gs? the hearts of these local people were co-opt the services of Brother Geelan of touched and donations were made up to Arcadia who on many occasions has as- five shillings to help their brothers and sisted him in preparing meals from the sisters in their own country. welfare van for large parties. Brother One church member came to me Sab- Geelan was happy to give his services, OuR Island Field bath morning expressing his Willingness and was placed in charge of the van itself to assist, but regretting that he would and the cooking facilities therein. Gs? not be able to help in town. He left with Detailed planning then ensued, and a bundle of magazines to visit his own lists of food and equipment were pre- people in the Riga district. He returned pared. As the welfare unit was to be set Self-help in Papua a week later with a broad smile and told up in an open park with the only avail- RAYMOND L. BOEHM the whole Sabbath school of the tremen- able facilities a tap with running water, dous response from the village people. equipment had to be planned down to the A record Appeal for Missions campaign in Port Moresby was completed by the Murai not only told of the need in his last detail, including a supply of firewood country but also gave Bible studies. for the outdoor copper providing hot local church on Sunday morning, May 9. To be at the door and see the smiling After a late start, two lads were left at water for washing up; serving facilities; the Army centre. Their first response and such things as boxes to keep food hot faces of the forty-five collectors returning after their effort was a sight I wish all was one which no collector really appre- while being sent forward to rescue parties ciates—"No, I'm not interested," followed and "casualties" on the far shore. our members in Australia could have witnessed. by the banging of the door. However, Realizing the magnitude of the task, this did not discourage these sincere boys. Civil Defence authorities were most help- Mainly Papuans and New Guineans out Not having offered prayer before they ful in providing many items of equip- for the first time, the appealers were started, they now stood under the same ment. They also agreed to meet the ex- eager to tell their stories and share their house and offered a petition to the Lord pense budget for the exercise. experiences with others. All were anxi- asking for His blessing as they continued Sunday, May 16, proved to be a clear, ous to know the final figure for our two in His name. Their faith was rewarded, fine day, and 7.30 a.m. saw the party as- Sunday mornings' efforts. The reports for at the next house they received six- sembled to proceed to Watson's Bay. An rolled in: "Taubada, lau abia £3 17s. 6d." teen shillings, and all other amounts were hour later the men went into action "Me kesim [catchim] £4 5s." "Between above five shillings, with a final donation erecting tents and setting up the equip- the two of us we received £6 15s." "Me of £1. These lads, neatly dressed and well ment. Foodstuffs and the welfare van kesim £2 10s., na one fella dog he kai kai spoken, were welcomed into the homes as arrived, and the welfare ladies appeared [ate] me." soon as they were met at the door. They in their uniforms. Neilson Park seethed As the collectors returned, the total were delighted to report a sum of more with activity as Brother L. L. Butler, who mounted. For two and a half hours' than £6. was officer-in-charge for the day, directed work the first Sunday a total of £100 was A total of £330 was received, and the the personnel to their individual repon- received from the residential suburb of business centre is not yet completed. At sibilities. Throughout the day the whole programme of feeding the "troops" was carried on without a hitch, despite sev- eral plan changes thrown in by those controlling the exercise, possibly to test the flexibility of our unit and workers. Despite some rather short-term changes, Brother Geelan and Mrs. White proved to be unshakable in their ability to cope with difficulties, and right on time a hearty meal topped off with apple pies, custard and cream, was served. During the afternoon the welfare unit received further work when walking wounded casualties were diverted to wel- fare care by the forward medical aid unit. At the end of the exercise at 4.30 p.m. the umpires called all personnel together and summed up the work of the various teams. They praised the work of the welfare unit for a job well done. Since the exercise we have received many expressions of appreciation for the work of the group who comprised the welfare unit and for the forethought of the church in providing the van for just such possible emergencies. The aim of Civil Defence is to raise and train an effective welfare section to sup- port the work of wardens, rescue parties, radiological teams, and medical units.