Flood-affected NSW communities help themselves in wake of devastation

Australia Broadcast Center

2 days ago

On a whiteboard in a church on the NSW Mid North Coast, Lauren Davies is constantly updating a "needs list".
Ms Davies has been taking stock of donated clothes, supplies and food, and calling out for items the community-run recovery centre needs since flooding ravaged her town of Wingham.
The list has included electric frypans, white vinegar, fresh fruit, antiseptic and pillows.
"It's like putting it out into the universe," she said.
"I turn around and say we really need this … and within five to 10 minutes, someone's got it, here it is.
"It's just manifested."
The community-led recovery centre has been bustling with adults and children picking up clothes, supplies and a meal, and finding a shoulder to lean on.
And there has been no shortage of volunteers.
"We have little old ladies that are in their 80s and 90s, coming in with cups of soups," Ms Davies said.
"The community here have been amazing even though they're affected, just like I am.
It has come after almost 800 properties were declared uninhabitable this week.
"We had a lady come in … [she] was telling us that every part of her house was taken out," Ms Davies said.
"There's nothing left, she's bare bones, no gyprock, no electrical, no nothing.
"But she's smiling and saying, 'I'm OK, I'm alive'."
Hundreds of people were expected to spend Saturday cleaning up in Taree, adding to the efforts already seen across the flood-ravaged region.
The "Mud Muster", a major volunteer mobilisation project being coordinated out of the Taree SES headquarters, has been led by locals.
Other initiatives have also started across the wider region to help towns recover.
More than 600 volunteers on the Mid North Coast joined a community flood response group to help wash out homes.
On Port Macquarie's North Shore, a community barbecue was set up to provide a place of respite for emergency service crews and residents amid sweeping mud and relocating drenched furniture.
More than 200 homes in the suburb — which was isolated for five days with no power — were damaged by floodwater.
Volunteer Talia Kelly spent the start of the weather event sandbagging homes and businesses before setting up the recovery barbecue out of her own pocket.
"You don't realise how good you've got it to be able to go home to a safe place," she said.
"Some of these guys don't have a safe place, nowhere to eat, nowhere to shower.
"We just hope that it gives some people some hope to be able to get their feet back on the ground."
Elvira Paima, who moved to the North Shore last year, lost some belongings in the floods.
"It was very stressful but I'm feeling much calmer now," she said.
"We are helping each other. We leave our house and then help another neighbour … because it helps us to also help someone else."
Volunteer Amanda Harte said the simple gesture had gone a long way.
"The damage here is absolutely devastating, it's something you probably can't even believe from pictures," Ms Harte said.
"Something as simple as just giving them a sausage sandwich, or a drink, or just lending an ear … it's pretty important."
Further south in Taree, food has remained a unifier during difficult times.
Rotating groups of Sikh volunteers from Melbourne made the more than 1,100-kilometre journey to Taree with a food truck and vans to make and deliver food.
The group has made up to 2,000 meals a day, which not-for-profit Sikh Volunteers Australia chief executive Jaswinder Singh said were delivered across the Mid North Coast.
"That is one thing less to worry about for them," he said.
The volunteer teams plan to stay as long as required.
"It could be a month … we don't know yet," Mr Singh said.
"As long as the demand is there, we will stay."
Kimbriki resident Tanya Ternovy picked up a meal from the Sikhs on her way home after the floods.
"To come all the way from Melbourne and to bring their beautiful food, it's just so kind," she said.
Ms Ternovy said the generosity of the volunteers was appreciated as the region faced immeasurable loss.
"It's just time enough now that the power's just come back on, and we can get across the bridges," she said.
"Driving through Taree, you can see so much loss, all dumped on the side of the road."
Mr Singh said he had witnessed "horrible scenes and stories" from people who had lost everything.
But he said many hands were coming together to help.
"Volunteers from all across the region are coming and supporting each other," he said.
"People are not just thinking about themselves. They are thinking about their neighbours and the whole street.