Despite the setback, the resilient Kyabram Salvos team is determined to rebuild, drawing strength from community support to resume its vital services as soon as possible.
Campaspe Salvos Major Lynne Turnbull said the team was at the beginning of its journey, rebuilding stock as it waits for the right place to set up shop.
“We just pray that the right thing will come up for us … we just want to get back as soon as we can,” Mrs Turnbull said.
“That’s at the front of everyone’s mind — how can we sustain things here?”
She said when she initially got the call from the CFA that thought there might be hope it would just be one part of the shop.
“(CFA) said that there was a fire at the back of the shop … so I guess I thought, well it’s at the back of the shop — at least the front of the shop is going to be okay,” she said.
“Until I turned up that day and went, okay, there is water coming out of the front door and all the windows are black — it’s the whole building.”
Mrs Turnbull said the around 20-strong team of volunteers were “heartbroken” when they found out the Bradley St location would never open its doors again.
However, it motivated the group to help out even more.
“Some of the volunteers have actually grouped together to go down to our Rochester shop and volunteer there until we can get something happening here again.”
Mrs Turnbull, echoing the volunteers’ sentiment, is rallying the Kyabram community to stand united with the Salvos.
She encourages residents to hold onto potential donations, eagerly anticipating the opening of their new store.
“We’re currently looking at some spots, but before we find that, maybe hold on to some things, because we’d like to have some stock before we open,” she said.
“We wanted to thank the community for their support, it’s very encouraging, and it encourages the volunteers as well.
“Even in their sadness and loss of everything, the community has backed them — and when we do get a new shop, I know they’ll have the community support.”
