Scientology Churches in Australia Put Out a Call

Scientology Volunteer Ministers in Australia are mobilizing resources to help with the cleanup in the aftermath of Cyclone Larry.

A category 5 cyclone with winds up to 180 miles per hour (290 kilometers per hour), Larry made landfall in northern Queensland, Australia, leaving an estimated 140,000 homes and businesses without electricity. Grateful that there are no reported deaths from the storm, Australians nevertheless realize the gravity of the effects of the worst cyclone in the country's history, which has cost the region nearly its entire banana and sugar cane crops and has caused some half billion dollars of damage.

“We have issued a call for Volunteer Ministers to come help,” said Virginia Stewart, Public Affairs Director for the Church in Australia. “The Scientology Volunteer Ministers Disaster Relief Teams are forming up at the Church of Scientology of Brisbane, ” she went on to say “and we will train anyone of any faith who wishes to join us in this work.”

The skill and commitment of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers of Australia was put to the test a little over a year ago, when the tsunamis of 26 December 2004 devastated Indonesia and other areas in South East Asia.

“Hundreds of our volunteers rushed to South East Asia to help after the tsunami,” said Ms. Stewart. “Now Volunteer Ministers are heading up the coast to help our fellow Australians recover from the damage they have sustained from this storm, and we welcome the help of anyone who wants to support this activity or join us.”

To join the Volunteer Ministers Disaster Relief Team persons in Australia or New Zealand should contact the Volunteer Minister Coordinator of the Church of Scientology Brisbane at 61-7 3257 4055 brisbane@scientology.net, or call the Volunteer Ministers Hotline Australia 61-2 9264 7955. Persons outside Australia or New Zealand should email the International Volunteer Ministers Coordinator at vm@volunteerministers.org.