The world read reports and saw graphic pictures when Cyclone Larry struck Innisfail, (1629km north of Brisbane - 88 km south of Cairns - with a population of 9,000), early Monday morning, March 20, but what happened to the churches, their buildings and their members could now be told.
Power poles leaning at 75 degrees; smashed banana plantations and bruised cane fields indicated something of the velocity of the Cyclone that had separated buildings but drawn people together. Teams of road workers - working together even though from different locations - assisted by members of the Defence Forces, contributing manual assistance, were obvious everywhere. Not so obvious was the unity and combined resources of the churches as they too worked together in this aftermath.
Dr Geoff Love, the director of the Bureau of Meteorology was reported as stating that, yes, it was a Category 5 Storm but statements that wind bursts reached 290km/hour were "not true". "The highest recorded was 102km/hour."
Pastor Brett Wilson of the Innisfail Baptist Family Centre told of waking at 3.00am that Monday morning and being aware of the eerie stillness - "not a breath of air"! Gradually, but definitely, the wind velocity increased until between 6.30-6.45am Cyclone Larry arrived.
As debris started flying and trees were pushed over - some hundreds of years old - fear of the unknown and uncontrollable set in. "Anyone who said they were not scared was not owning up to their real feelings. I was scared and I admit it," said Brett.
Reverend Christopher Wright the Area Dean of the Northern Deanery of the Diocese of North Queensland, said that earliest reports indicated that St Alban's Anglican Church in Innisfail was the worst hit as it had lost its Church Hall, but as access to the Palmerston Highway opened up, going up the Atherton Mountains, it was revealed that the Anglican Church in Millaa Millaa - a small rural settlement of 180 people - had lost 90 per cent of the roof.
Pastor Lionel Henaway of the Christian Revival Fellowship explained that their mandate from the Lord after the cyclone was to raises up a multi cultural ministry for the nation. Now they appreciated the prayers and support from a variety of Christian resources - all united together in a time of need.
The Moderator of the Uniting Church, Reverend Dr. David Pitman reported extensive damage to crops and property but "no significant damage to church buildings".
Just as strange was the situation that many people found themselves in, during and following Cyclone Larry. Any shared their stories realising that people associated with the variety of churches understood, as they had been through similar experiences.
Some church leaders stated that they preferred financial assistance rather than goods, which require time to sort and display. Offers of practical help were also appreciated, but this required pastors to co-ordinate their efforts, tasking time which they could not spared as they needed all the time to ‘pastor my people’.
Now was the time for prayer and concern for those who survived the forces of nature, in their time of need for fellowship and support.
Ramon A. Williams