Lismore school formal glam thanks to Thread Together donation

Clothing charity Thread Together has stepped in to provide brand-new, designer outfits (top-to-toe) for approximately 40 flood-affected Lismore students. See why they’ll look their best at the end of year formal.

They’ve had the year from hell but Lismore senior school students will finish it on a high and in dazzling fashion at their Year 12 formal.

After being pummelled by the floods, the young women and men have been gifted some glam and bling with the help of an ex-Richmond River High student and his colleagues in the fashion world.

Adam Worling of Thread Together has roped in CEO of Wittner Shoes, Catherine Williamson, and CEO of Bec + Bridge, Natice Myers, to bring their wares from Sydney and Melbourne to Lismore.

“I was a student at Richmond River High School,” Mr Worling said, “so when I heard it was being condemned because it didn’t survive this last flood I knew we had to come back and do something.”

Richmond River High School captain Lily Shepherd and Bonnie Bennett checking out the foot wear from Wittner Shoes at the Lismore Showgrounds.

Around 50 students from the Rivers Secondary College who have been either flood-affected or cost-of-living impacted are being assisted by the trio’s teams with new outfits for their Year 12 formal.

“I grew up in Lismore,” Mr Worling said, “I went through the ’74 flood and when this flood hit we knew how devastating it would be.”

Mr Worling returned to his old stomping ground after the floodwaters receded to set up shop - Thread Together - which collects new clothing from manufacturers, designers and retailers and redistributes it to people in need.

“In the first two days we handed out about 14,000 units of brand new clothing that has never been worn before,” he said.

Adam Worling returned to Lismore after 25 years with clothing charity Thread Together and his heart sank when he saw the devastation. Picture: Nicholas Rupolo

“When somebody is studying for eight to 10 years of their life it’s so wonderful that they can attend their school formal and wear clothes they want to wear.

“It should never be an excuse not to go to their night because they don’t have something to wear.”

Lismore HSC students to finish school in style with donated threads

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Richmond River High School girls’ captain Lily Shepherd said Thread Together has worked hard to bring in high-end clothing for those who have lost everything in the floods.

“We’ve had a fitting and it’s really exciting,” Lily said.

“It’s allowed us to have clothing and things to wear to our formal so we can actually enjoy this last little hurrah of our schooling.

“As it gets closer to the date I am getting more excited but obviously just focusing on getting through my exams and everything.”

Boys’ captain Connor McDougall said the gift means a lot to the community, especially those who are still suffering financial hardship.

“I had a lot of friends that lost their homes in the flood,” he said, “it put a lot of stress on the community and impacted our year,” Connor said.

“We didn’t get to go on any excursions in Year 10 or 11 because of Covid and then the flood wiping out the school in Year 12 just brought it down for our year and made our students go a lot worse than they would have in the HSC.

“This will release some of the stress from all that, especially in the exam period.”

John Eakin, Year 12 adviser for Richmond River High, said a lot of students were thinking they couldn’t go to the formal because they had no access to formal wear.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for our students via Thread Together,” Mr Eakin said, “with Adam Worling, the brains behind it all to make this happen.

“People have come up from Sydney, there are lots of fashion designers involved and it’s so amazing to see the community spirit still alive in Lismore and making quality things happen for our kids.”

Mr Eakin said the gesture was a special thing for the soon to be school-leavers.

“I think the kids weren’t quite sure at first ... as their focus has been on their HSC exams but it’s one thing that every Year 12 looks forward to and that’s their end of year formal.

“It will be great to be able to turn up in a month’s time to see our kids graduate looking amazing and finish their schooling on a high.”