Struggling seafarers spirits buoyed by Townsville’s Mission to Seafarers

Seafarers who help move 98 per cent of Australia’s goods are doing it tough with Covid restrictions but a Townsville organisation is offering them much needed support.

• Bravus has struck coal seams at its Carmichael Mine
• Atherton man killed in Bruce Highway crash is remembered

THE coronavirus pandemic has caused a devastating impact on one Australia’s vital links with the rest of the world – international seafarers.

As an island nation, Australia is almost entirely dependent on seafarers’ role facilitating the transport of up to 98 per cent of goods into and out of the country.

The pandemic has had a detrimental impact on an estimated 300,000 seafarers stuck on ships for up to 18 months, causing a range of mental health challenges for crews.

Mission to Seafarers is a worldwide not-for-profit organisation serving all seafarers, nationally and internationally for over 160 years and at the Port of Townsville since 1927, offering hospitality, local transport, support in times of hardship and injustice, assistance in emergencies, and pastoral care with ship and hospital visits.

With a mantra of “no shipping, no shopping”, Townsville Mission to Seafarers manager Graham Miller said Australians depended on seafarers for their daily lives and it was “nearly criminal” the neglect they were experiencing in some parts of the world.

Twenty-two years ago, the Belgian Gardens resident was asked to look after the Townsville facility while someone was away, and he’s stayed on ever since.

Normally they operate a bustling canteen, library, chapel and recreation area, 365 days a year, but the flow of seafarers dried up entirely in October 2020.

Graham Miller hands over gift bags to a crew member at Townsville Port for the International Day of the Seafarer. Picture: Supplied.

Townsville is missing out on millions annually because visiting crews were unable to disembark and spend at local shops, but Mission to Seafarers have done their best to fill the void by emailing through extensive shopping catalogues to the ship’s crews.

In celebration of International Day of the Seafarer last Friday, Mr Miller and his team of volunteers busied themselves preparing care packages for distribution among the crews of vessels which docked into Townsville.

Chris Tester and Alphonse Garimae prepare care packages for ships docking into Townsville Port to mark International Day of the Seafarer. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s a mixture of games, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, large containers of coffee, Milo, chocolate biscuits and chocolates,” Mr Miller said.

“The packs include many comforts we would normally take for granted, it’s only really a gesture but they really appreciate it.

“We’ve had several emails from the masters of vessels, saying ‘thank you so much for thinking of us. It’s a hard life, but we appreciate what you do for us’.”

Mr Miller was grateful for the donations from the Port of Townsville ($1500) and South 32 mines ($300) to buy the care packages, worth $100 each.

Originally published as Struggling seafarers spirits buoyed by Townsville’s Mission to Seafarers