Being there when it counts - A Cyclone Marcia story

Queenslanders are still cleaning up following Tropical Cyclone Marcia.

In the coastal community of Yeppoon north of Rockhampton in Central QLD, the clean up continues after Marcia made landfall at Shoalwater Bay (between St Lawrence and Yeppoon) as a Category 5 storm on Friday February 20th.

Emu Park Uniting Church Sat 21st Feb Source: Rev Suzy Sitton

St Andrew’s Uniting Church in Yeppoon, approx. 6 km up the hill from the main beach sustained minor damage, but Emu Park Uniting (around 350 steps from the beach), which was built during the war years, lost its roof. Assessors have been evaluating the damage to determine the next step.

Rev Suzy Sitton is the minister at St Andrews and Emu Park and during a conversation with National Christian Radio Network, Vision Radio, she highlighted that the initial clean up is just the beginning.

“As the days roll out from the event, people start to feel the emotions of it” she said. “They look at the devastation around and are pretty stoic about it, but emotions are starting to bubble up now. 

People become frustrated and just need to sit down and talk through the story of what happened.”

Rev Sitton saw the importance of just having that conversation when she visited the Blue Care

residents adjacent to St Andrews following the worship service on Sunday morning.

“As I finished the service, I decided to take a little wander around the retirement homes adjacent to the church. Some of the elderly people there said thank you for calling, we haven’t heard from anyone, we can’t get any phone contact.”

Capricorn Gardens Aged Care Facility Yeppoon. source: Rev Suzy Sitton

They told her that there had been people there clearing debris but they just wanted someone to say hello, how are you.

“I don’t know what the issues are on the ground in town I’m too early, but hopefully I’ll be there when someone needs to talk.”

Although there was no power at home until Wednesday, Rev Sitton was very grateful to “some dear friends from Emerald” who loaned her a camper trailer to set up fridge and cooking facilities so that she could remain nourished to support other people.