While not exclusive to Australia – it is a place that often faces the toughest of weather conditions from fires to flood.

And the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, often finds themselves at the frontline providing critical support.

The most recent natural disaster to hit the ‘lucky country’ was Tropical Cyclone Seroja – displacing hundreds of locals in Kalbarri and cutting power and essential services for thousands more.

Emergency WA estimated the Cyclone to cast damage across a path 700km long and 150km wide.

More than 70 per cent of Kalbarri’s homes were damaged from the Cyclone’s movement.

In the immediate days of Seroja making landfall, Rapid Relief Team volunteers set up and provided meals at Kalbarri Evacuation Centre.

Alex Sharpe, Western Australia Regional Team Leader for RRT said with a shortage of supplies due to the Cyclone, RRT also airlifted its emergency food boxes to the region.

When we deploy to these locations it is more often than not made up of local volunteers that know the regions well. 

Being part of the communities impacted and Christian values of charity and compassion are what drive us to help. 

More than 120 were donated in total in addition to breakfasts, lunches and dinners served up to displaced locals. 

“We have faith the community will bounce back because they are a resilient bunch and faced the aftermath of Seroja with good humour and patience.” 

RRT emergency food boxes contain a variety of non-perishable, long-life food that can feed a family of four for up to 48 hours.