It takes a village to raise a child, or cope with flood
In a small town isolated by flooding, one mother was desperate for nappies.
Childcare centre director Joanna Hartley started organising and soon found out there were many others in need.
"We had a dozen families come and collect nappies," she told AAP.
Many schools have not been operating amid record-breaking, deadly flooding around the NSW mid-north coast, with clean-up efforts continuing on Tuesday.
But community non-profit Cuddlepie Early Childhood Learning Centre at Wingham has opened, helping to provide some sense of normality as the recovery continues.
"Some of the families have been flood-affected with mud that's up to their knees so I can only imagine what they're going through.
"Not to mention how that emotionally impacts children as well.
"Having that normalcy for them, and providing that is 100 per cent needed," Ms Hartley told AAP.
The childcare centre did not escape the intense rain and flooding unscathed.
"We've had, in our garden area, a lot of run-off from the excess stormwater ... our soft-floor has morphed."
"It's a big tripping hazard so now I've got to do a risk assessment."
Marie Johnston from Wingham clothing store Country Kids has also been helping get supplies where they're needed, after spending days helping friends clean up their muddy homes.
"I just couldn't handle doing anything physical after that so I thought well how can I help, what do people need?
"Gumboots, everybody needs gumboots."
Many local shops had run out but Ms Johnston was blown away by the results after she posted about "the great Aussie gumboot drive" on her store's Facebook page.
"I had people waiting for me when I opened up the doors (on Monday)," she told AAP.
Ms Johnston estimated she got about 30 pairs of gumboots to those who needed them.
"The people were so grateful, so it was a good day, and I'm extending it ... if people still need gumboots I'll extend it to Wednesday.
"The community feeling, it was just beautiful, I had a really lovely day."
In a small town isolated by flooding, one mother was desperate for nappies.
Childcare centre director Joanna Hartley started organising and soon found out there were many others in need.
"We had a dozen families come and collect nappies," she told AAP.
Many schools have not been operating amid record-breaking, deadly flooding around the NSW mid-north coast, with clean-up efforts continuing on Tuesday.
But community non-profit Cuddlepie Early Childhood Learning Centre at Wingham has opened, helping to provide some sense of normality as the recovery continues.
"Some of the families have been flood-affected with mud that's up to their knees so I can only imagine what they're going through.
"Not to mention how that emotionally impacts children as well.
"Having that normalcy for them, and providing that is 100 per cent needed," Ms Hartley told AAP.
The childcare centre did not escape the intense rain and flooding unscathed.
"We've had, in our garden area, a lot of run-off from the excess stormwater ... our soft-floor has morphed."
"It's a big tripping hazard so now I've got to do a risk assessment."
Marie Johnston from Wingham clothing store Country Kids has also been helping get supplies where they're needed, after spending days helping friends clean up their muddy homes.
"I just couldn't handle doing anything physical after that so I thought well how can I help, what do people need?
"Gumboots, everybody needs gumboots."
Many local shops had run out but Ms Johnston was blown away by the results after she posted about "the great Aussie gumboot drive" on her store's Facebook page.
"I had people waiting for me when I opened up the doors (on Monday)," she told AAP.
Ms Johnston estimated she got about 30 pairs of gumboots to those who needed them.
"The people were so grateful, so it was a good day, and I'm extending it ... if people still need gumboots I'll extend it to Wednesday.
"The community feeling, it was just beautiful, I had a really lovely day."
In a small town isolated by flooding, one mother was desperate for nappies.
Childcare centre director Joanna Hartley started organising and soon found out there were many others in need.
"We had a dozen families come and collect nappies," she told AAP.
Many schools have not been operating amid record-breaking, deadly flooding around the NSW mid-north coast, with clean-up efforts continuing on Tuesday.
But community non-profit Cuddlepie Early Childhood Learning Centre at Wingham has opened, helping to provide some sense of normality as the recovery continues.
"Some of the families have been flood-affected with mud that's up to their knees so I can only imagine what they're going through.
"Not to mention how that emotionally impacts children as well.
"Having that normalcy for them, and providing that is 100 per cent needed," Ms Hartley told AAP.
The childcare centre did not escape the intense rain and flooding unscathed.
"We've had, in our garden area, a lot of run-off from the excess stormwater ... our soft-floor has morphed."
"It's a big tripping hazard so now I've got to do a risk assessment."
Marie Johnston from Wingham clothing store Country Kids has also been helping get supplies where they're needed, after spending days helping friends clean up their muddy homes.
"I just couldn't handle doing anything physical after that so I thought well how can I help, what do people need?
"Gumboots, everybody needs gumboots."
Many local shops had run out but Ms Johnston was blown away by the results after she posted about "the great Aussie gumboot drive" on her store's Facebook page.
"I had people waiting for me when I opened up the doors (on Monday)," she told AAP.
Ms Johnston estimated she got about 30 pairs of gumboots to those who needed them.
"The people were so grateful, so it was a good day, and I'm extending it ... if people still need gumboots I'll extend it to Wednesday.
"The community feeling, it was just beautiful, I had a really lovely day."
In a small town isolated by flooding, one mother was desperate for nappies.
Childcare centre director Joanna Hartley started organising and soon found out there were many others in need.
"We had a dozen families come and collect nappies," she told AAP.
Many schools have not been operating amid record-breaking, deadly flooding around the NSW mid-north coast, with clean-up efforts continuing on Tuesday.
But community non-profit Cuddlepie Early Childhood Learning Centre at Wingham has opened, helping to provide some sense of normality as the recovery continues.
"Some of the families have been flood-affected with mud that's up to their knees so I can only imagine what they're going through.
"Not to mention how that emotionally impacts children as well.
"Having that normalcy for them, and providing that is 100 per cent needed," Ms Hartley told AAP.
The childcare centre did not escape the intense rain and flooding unscathed.
"We've had, in our garden area, a lot of run-off from the excess stormwater ... our soft-floor has morphed."
"It's a big tripping hazard so now I've got to do a risk assessment."
Marie Johnston from Wingham clothing store Country Kids has also been helping get supplies where they're needed, after spending days helping friends clean up their muddy homes.
"I just couldn't handle doing anything physical after that so I thought well how can I help, what do people need?
"Gumboots, everybody needs gumboots."
Many local shops had run out but Ms Johnston was blown away by the results after she posted about "the great Aussie gumboot drive" on her store's Facebook page.
"I had people waiting for me when I opened up the doors (on Monday)," she told AAP.
Ms Johnston estimated she got about 30 pairs of gumboots to those who needed them.
"The people were so grateful, so it was a good day, and I'm extending it ... if people still need gumboots I'll extend it to Wednesday.
"The community feeling, it was just beautiful, I had a really lovely day."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Slushy start: warmer winter a downer for ski slopes
The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report. The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report. The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report. The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Slushy start: warmer winter a downer for ski slopes
The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report.
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Slushy start: warmer winter a downer for ski slopes
The first dustings of winter snow have arrived on Australian mountaintops but long-range weather forecasts suggest it could be slow start to the ski season. Skiers and boarders ideally want a solid base of snow covering rocks and shrubs yet the Bureau of Meteorology's predictions of ongoing above-average temperatures could delay big dumps on the mainland resorts. Yet the University of Melbourne climate scientist Professor David Karoly said forecasts of above-average rainfall for cooler temperatures could lead to more snow overall this winter. Weatherzone further described conditions as "unfavourable" early in the season, due to start officially on June 7, before improving in later months. For snow to settle, it needs low-enough temperatures and adequate moisture. Prof Karoly said there was a lot of guesswork in forecasting rain or snow several months ahead. BOM's long-range forecasts do include estimates of precipitation but no specific outlook for the Kosciuszko and Victorian alpine areas. Yet Prof Karoly said climate change was having a clear impact on longer-term trends, already cutting snow seasons short and thinning coverage, particularly at lower elevations. "The snow season depends often on getting a base of snow and then repeated, if you like, big dumps of snow," he told AAP. "And unfortunately, for much of the last 10 to 15 years, there have been fewer-than-normal big dumps of snow, which means there has been relatively poor snow seasons." Snow-making is challenged by higher overnight temperatures, he added, and is less likely to stick around if days stay warm. Extra rainfall in warmer conditions then serves to wash away the snow cover base. Last year, an Australian National University report found the average ski season across Australian resorts could be 44 days shorter by 2025 under a mid-emissions scenario. The study, commissioned by climate advocacy group Protect our Winters Australia, was not isolated to ski tourism and found climate change was harming fragile high country ecosystems, putting unique species like Pygmy-possums at risk. Protect our Winters Australia director Lily O'Neill, who lives 30 minutes from the mountains, said her two sons were "profoundly upset" by shortening snow seasons. "The mountains are massively at threat right now from climate change," she told AAP. Ms O'Neill said Australia's snowy landscapes could recover if greenhouse gas emissions were reduced rapidly, as highlighted in the 2024 ANU report.
