How you feed 200 firefighters
Nikita Watts | 21st October 2009

ROCKHAMPTON MORNING BULLETIN

WITH 200 men and women fighting fires, who's going to fight their hunger?

Yesterday Tamara Miller, from Hansen's Catering, was making 150 salad rolls for lunch and stockman's stew for a dinner for 130.

She and her team were working to support the Salvation Army, which has been preparing meals every night since the region's fires began.

Co-ordinator for Salvation Army emergency services, Charles Vanderwolf, said the organisation had a team of five preparing meals for up to 180 firefighters each night.

He said this had been the longest time the volunteers had worked to make meals.

“We are in our fifth week of doing this without a night off,” he said.

“The guys (firefighters) are very appreciative that we are there giving them a wholesome meal.

“We are so appreciative of the fact that these firies are giving up a lot of their own time.”

Tamara said she was thankful for the help of some local businesses, particularly over the weekend.

“We were able to pull together so much food, it was good community spirit,” she said.

“We have been putting the call out and everyone has been jumping in to give us a hand.”

Queensland Fire and Rescue Service logistics officer Leisa Christie said the service had received donations of food, water and accommodation and they were very thankful for all of the help.

“We've even had ladies baking cakes; it was very nice,” she said.

“It's all appreciated and it all helps.”

St Vincent De Paul has supplied bedding to displaced families.

HELPING HANDS • IGA has donated the Nankin Rural Fire Brigade almost $600 in groceries for food which was prepared by Rockhampton Luxury Limousines • Coles has donated a $40 gift voucher for Hansen's Catering • Salvation Army's emergency service has made meals for firefighters for the last five weeks • Red Cross has a disaster management team on standby and have an accommodated centre open • St Vincent De Paul has supplied bedding to those that have been displaced and also delivered items to the PCYC • For livestock, such as horses and cattle, Carlene Wilson has offered her property to anyone who has fencing issues and/or displaced horses due to the fires. Carlene can be contacted on 4934 1366. • CQ Day-Night pharmacy, Priceline and Discount Drug Store, have each donated two 500g jars of Flamazine for the Bromley family • Healthy Horses has donated a box of needles and syringes and jar of ointment for the Bromley family • Gracemere's Emma Morgan has donated 30 bales of Lucerne worth $480 to the Bromley family • The Dreamtime Centre, Comfort Inn, The Ambassador and the Tropical Wanderer have given up rooms for firefighters to rest • Robbie D's, Walkers Bakery, Pac Plus, Cranston's Pies helped to support Hansen's Catering • North Rockhampton Bowls Club has given Hansen's catering the use of their kitchen • Babies Galore will donate much-needed items to Iain Poulton and Kellie McGuiness for their baby • Bunnings has donated compost bins and worms to Lakes Creek School

Derek wrote on Oct 21^st, 2009 at 4:50pm:

Thanks Moderator Derek.
Was thinking of Jonno.

KD