Red Cross and New Life helpers bring aid after Karuah storms Myall Coast Port Stephens by News Of The Area - Modern Media - February 12, 2025 Tea Gardens Red Cross members Jenny Kelly, Narelle Murray and Megan Markham outside the relief centre in Karuah. RESIDENTS around Karuah were the thankful recipients of assistance offered by the Tea Gardens Red Cross and New Life Community Relief groups, in the wake of destructive storms on 18 January. The area in front of the Karuah Centre became a hub of post-storm recovery activity, as locals helped locals come to terms with losses, and get through a prolonged period without power or telecommunications. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au The volunteers of New Life Community Relief set up a barbeque and mobile facilities for those whose loss of power at home had rendered their food storage and refrigeration impossible, while Red Cross volunteers trained in Psychological First Aid gave many a sympathetic ear to debrief. “We got deployed by Red Cross Emergency Services from 11am to 2pm, to talk to the people who had no power and came in for some breakfast or lunch, to be there for support, following the Psychological First Aid training,” Tea Gardens Red Cross volunteer Narelle Murray told NOTA. “Sometimes all I can offer when I turn up is a cup of tea and a friendly ear, but you generally end up speaking with people for hours about what they’ve just experienced. “Sometimes a chat helps.” Narelle was joined by her granddaughter Megan Markham, and Jenny Kelly at the Karuah site, one of many as the Australian Red Cross provided Psychological First Aid to over 750 people impacted by the power outage across New South Wales that left 40,000 households without power. New Life Community Relief Incorporation (NLCR) is a locally run and community-funded charity, an initiative of C3 New Life Church at Raymond Terrace. Its stated reason for existence is “to provide relief to anyone who is in crisis, disadvantaged and from any sector of the community”. NLCR offers support to the homeless, or those at risk of homelessness, men and women fleeing domestic family violence and anyone else in need of emergency relief, by providing food, financial relief (through vouchers), wellbeing support for men, women and children in the Port Stephens Local Government Area (LGA). The Australian Red Cross’ Psychological First Aid training can make all the difference for someone who has just faced a sudden and life-altering trauma, and training is offered periodically through the Tea Gardens Red Cross branch, which meets the fourth Monday of the month at the Hawks Nest Golf Club, the first for 2024 being 24 February. By Thomas O’KEEFE
