Flood Relief in Queensland

Beginning in December 2010, the Queensland state of Australia was hit by a devastating series of floods which forced thousands of people to evacuate and caused estimated damage totaling AU$30 billion. Three-quarters of the state was declared a disaster zone.

Supreme Master Ching Hai quickly contributed a US$10,000 relief fund and on January 5, 2011, our Association members from Brisbane Center prepared and delivered over 500 relief packages to the Dalby relief center and the Western Downs Council Depot. Each package contained food, beverages, towels, band aids and utensils as well as booklets and flyers on climate change. The staff at the Dalby relief center, which provided temporary housing for homeless families and their pets during the crisis, greeted our Association members with excitement and thanked them for the additional fresh fruit, vegetables, vegan dog food, candy and chocolates.

On February 4, after the unprecedented deluge spread to the capital city of Brisbane, our Association members visited Animal Rescue Queensland to assist with their efforts to care for rescued and flood-displaced dogs and presented them with AU$2,000 for vet care, vegan dog food, leads, collars and medicine. Looking for areas of unmet needs, our Association members gave a further sum of AU$600 to Rydges Pet Resort, which had taken in six foster dogs and presented a total of AU$4,900 to five volunteers who had been looking after flood-affected wildlife, such as possums and joeys (baby kangaroos). All the recipients were also given copies of Master’s book The Dogs in My Life and other publications.

Ms. Simone Hewitt from ARQ wrote the following letter to Master, expressing her group’s heartfelt gratitude:

Dear Master Ching Hai,

Animal Rescue QLD would like to thank you sincerely for your kind donation of funds and the donation of products and food. Your kind donation will go towards fostering and re-homing homeless dogs, with many of these dogs suffering illnesses and or skin conditions, etc. Your donation will help these dogs get well and find a new forever home. We and our dogs are very grateful for your kindness.

Go Veg, Go Green

High paws & big licks all round

On March 21, our Association members visited the small inland town of Grantham that had been dramatically and severely damaged in a flash flood from heavy rains in January. About nine people lost their lives, several were missing, and many homes were destroyed leaving the township desolate and consumed by grief. From Master’s relief fund, Association members presented a cheque of AU$2,500 to each of four families that had suffered tremendous loss. Each family also received a gift bag of books, DVDs and chocolates in addition to enjoying a delicious vegan lunch lovingly prepared by our Association members in collaboration with officials involved in the ongoing local relief and support effort.

Cyclone Yasi Relief

On February 3, 2011, while Brisbane was still reeling from the floods, disaster hit the state of Queensland again; this time in the north. A category 5 storm - Cyclone Yasi - the largest in the nation’s history, struck Australia’s northeast coastal region. Around 170,000 households lost power as the area was lashed by winds reaching 300 kilometers per hour and waves up to 9 meters high. Damage was estimated to be more than that caused five years earlier by tropical Cyclone Larry. Thanks to early evacuations by the government, tens of thousands of residents had been safely transferred to shelters before the full force of the cyclone struck.

With deep concern, Supreme Master Ching Hai quickly arranged a US$10,000 relief fund. On March 21, a team from our Brisbane Center arrived in Innisfail, one of the worst-affected areas, to provide aid. With the full support of Ms. Kim Agli, the Community Relations Officer of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, the team quickly purchased supplies of bedding, blankets, clothes, animal goods, kitchenware, mattresses, basic furniture and appliances as well as camping stoves and gas cylinders, and distributed the items according to the needs of the people.

Our group was touched to see some community members spending hours in the extreme heat and adverse conditions to help others, despite their own grief and material needs. Many expressed sincere gratitude for Master’s timely assistance.

Our appreciation goes to the Queensland and Australian governments for their protective measures and to the warm-hearted Australian people for caring not only for their fellow citizens but also for the helpless, disaster-affected animals. May such damaging events subside through our more compassionate actions toward the ecosphere.

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