Lismore flood: Marge Graham, Lorraine Hyman Stuart Bock killed in extreme flooding

A man who had ventured out to help with sandbagging, and an elderly woman known as a Lismore “icon” have been identified as two of the first victims of the flood disaster in northern NSW. Now a fourth body has been found.

A fourth person has died in the northern NSW flood disaster with a man in his 70s discovered inside a home in South Lismore on Wednesday.

The man — who is yet to be formally identified — was discovered at a home on Cromer St about 2pm and a crime scene has been established.

Confirmation of the fourth fatality of the floods came just hours after the discovery of Stuart Bock’s body in the Lismore CBD on Wednesday morning, bringing a tragic end to three days of searching by his family and friends.

Mr Bock’s shattered loved ones took to Facebook to confirm his body had been found in floodwaters about 10.55am on Wednesday.

Stuart Bock is the third named victim of the floods in Lismore. Picture: Facebook

His death follows those of Lorraine Hyman and Marge Graham — both aged in their 80s — who died as dangerous floodwaters descended on Lismore too rapidly for either to escape their homes.

Mr Bock’s family and friends had been trying to track him down for the past three days, having last been told he was heading into town to help with sandbagging.

His daughter Crystal thanked those locals who had tried to help find him as she shared the tragic news.

“To everyone who has helped in the search of our dad and has been reaching out, unfortunately we have identified his body. He was swept away in the flood waters in Lismore on Sunday afternoon around 4.30pm,” she wrote on Facebook.

“Thank you all so much for the kind words, well wishes and offers of hope in this unbearably agonising time … Thank you again for all that you have done in assisting us.”

Mr Bock is understood not to have had stable accommodation for some time in the lead up the floods.

Friends of local icon Marge Graham, 82, told The Daily Telegraph she had insisted on Sunday night that she was OK to stay in her Casino St home – saying the last flood to hit the town had not reached her front door.

But no one, including Ms Graham, knew Lismore was about to face record river levels.

When her friend Susan Mills woke on Monday to missed calls and reports that Ms Graham was chest deep in water, she began to fear something “really tragic” had taken place.

“I knew something wasn’t right when I couldn’t find her in the evacuation centre or hospital,” Mrs Mills said.

“Somebody would have said to call me or contact her other friends.”

Singer Marge Graham, backed by Kay Ritchings, was known for constantly giving back to the Lismore community.

At the same time on the other side of town, relatives of Lorraine Hyman were becoming increasingly concerned about her wellbeing.

Taking to Facebook groups on Tuesday they desperately asked locals for help, with the SES struggling to keep up with the huge number of calls for assistance as the floodwaters rapidly rose.

Ms Hyman was found at her home on Ewing St in Lismore about 10.20am on Tuesday by a member of the public who had gone to check on her welfare.

Her relatives have been left devastated by her death, with one family member describing her as “such a private and quiet person”.

NSW Police said reports would be prepared for the coroner on the deaths of Ms Hyman and Ms Graham.

Police and emergency services fear the death toll of the flood could rise, with many areas throughout the state’s north currently inaccessible.

Ms Graham was a well known member of the local community, with her friend Mrs Mills describing her a “surrogate mother” who took care of her and her siblings since she was two.

“She was like a parent to us,” Mrs Mills said.

“Most people know her as a country music star and she’s a Lismore icon, but for us we knew her as family.”

Ms Graham founded The Cedar Guitar Country Music Festival, would regularly sing in nursing homes and raised money for Tsunami benefits.

“She had a huge personality, she was always very positive and had an interest in every single topic,” Mrs Mills said.

“She had an opinion on everything as well.

“She was a large and vibrant personality.”

Lismore Cedar Guitar Festival organiser Marge Graham here with entertainer Terry Gordon OAM will be remembered as a community leader. Photo Cathy Adams / The Northern Star

Just recently, Ms Graham had been excited to finish knitting a jumper she was gifting to Mrs Mills’ daughter.

“She loved (my children) immensely and when I told my daughter this morning she just burst into tears,” she said.

Marge Graham with close friend and musician Josh Powell Fussell. Picture: Josh Powell Fussell

Close friend Josh Powell-Fussell said he came to know Ms Graham through her work in the Cedar Guitar Awards Talent Quest during the 1990s and 2000s.

He said Ms Graham also ran weekly Country Music live shows at the Lismore Workers Club which saw a 70 plus strong crowd weekly attend.

“Marge Graham was a selfless person who improved the experience and careers of many budding Country Music Artists in the Northern Rivers and beyond,” he said.

“ Marge was a very kind, yet strict believer in reliability and showability which gave me an excellent foundation for things to come in my career.

“Marge really began my career and I also performed several duo shows with her at The Gollan Hotel Lismore.”

He said she was a woman “lived life to the fullest”.

“I‘m proud to have been a part of her awesome life,” he said.

“ Rest in peace beautiful lady.”