Update on Adass Synagogue Fire Bombing

Readers will recall the news footage of the attack on the Adass Synagogue in Melbourne.

The facility provided much more than a place of worship to the local community and was in fact the heart of the local area.

To maintain as many services as possible for the congregation, a short-term temporary marque was erected at a near-by school while a longer-term site was sourced.

Unlike many organisations where temporary premises can be utilised a distance away from the damaged premises, this was not possible with the facility needing to be within walking distance of the congregation.

The other criteria are that the premises are used every day of the week for a wide range of functions.

I am pleased to report that through the combined efforts of everyone involved including two local councils, The City of Port Phillip and the City of Glen Eria, the State Government, an understanding landlord, builders Insuraplex and all their trades the temporary premises were handed over to the Community last Friday.

Sunday was utilised setting up and the facility opened to the congregation on Monday.

The amount of effort put in by everyone involved cannot be overstated.

Funding for this work was met by the congregation’s insurer, Vero who through their loss adjusters Intergra have been wonderfully supportive.

Steve and I visited the premises today and it was great to see the facility so well set up and fully operational. Being respectful to the occupants of the facility we share only one photograph taken during our visit.

A couple of take aways for me. The first is that you get what you pay for. The broker, WTW did a first-class job in setting up the insurance program with a quality insurer who have proved yet again they are there when you need them.

This in stark contrast, where there is massive under or non-insurance, too short an indemnity period etc. which can destroy an organisation and the investment in it by its owners or custodians.

Secondly, it is important to use quality trades that are prepared to pull out all stops to meet very tight deadlines and are still able to deliver a quality outcome.

Thirdly, it is so important that the committee within the Insured entity can and do work cohesively as a team. There is a great deal of work for the volunteer committee members who have, in this claim been exemplary.

Finally, to me, with all the recent criticism of the insurance industry, this is yet another example of a good news story demonstrating the importance of quality insurance and the importance of insurance not only an individual insured but often to communities and the economy.

We still have a long way to go with the recovery process for this particular client, but this key milestone will take some pressure of the process as we move to agreeing the scope of works and demolition phases.

We at LMI look forward to working with everyone involved to bring this very complex claim to finality.