Northern Rivers flood recovery: Cabbage Tree Island Public School’s path to recovery

After devastating floods destroyed their community and classrooms, one Ballina Shire school is going the extra lengths to revitalise and grow again.

As Northern NSW was hit by devastating floodwaters, the small Indigenous community of Cabbage Tree Island was left broken as close-knit locals were torn apart from their homes and community.

The island remains fenced off to residents almost five months later.

At the centre of this community is Cabbage Tree Island Public School.

Despite the school resting on the highest part of the island, like every home, it was severely flood damaged.

Cabbage Tree Island Public School was inundated by floodwaters in February 2022. Picture: Dyonne Anderson

Principal Dyonne Anderson said floodwaters came halfway up the lower windows, rendering the library, year 3-6 bathrooms, community rooms andthe preschool unsalvageable.

Every other schoolroom was inundated in some way.

“We had purchased some new equipment, we had two 3D printers we’d never used, we had a new fridge/freezer for our breakfast program and for our cooking program,” Ms Anderson said.

“That’s how we (the community) come together (by providing these programs).

“All of the things we had set up, all of the books in the library … everything was lost.

“But I think the most devastating of all was to discover that 129 years of our school history, of our community history was in muddy waters and could not be saved.”

Cabbage Tree Island Public School was inundated, hitting several classrooms. Picture: Dyonne Anderson

While there have been small joys in finding invaluable items — like a gifted painting from former student Digby Moran — the recovery has been challenging as students and the community remain disconnected and a two-year rebuild expected.

“The school was the common connection for everyone on the island,” Ms Anderson said.

“Everyone had some relationship with the school — whether they were a former student or a grandparent of a child attending the school.

“The connection for community is a significant one. We’re the heart of the community.

“When our community knew we had lost so much within the school it was as heartbreaking as knowing people had lost homes.”

Some students are temporarily located in other Ballina Shire schools, while others are studying across NSW where families can find accommodation.

Cabbage Tree Island Public School was inundated, hitting several classrooms. Picture: Dyonne Anderson

Despite this, Ms Anderson said the school was still reaching out to bring together a heartbroken community through healing circles, food donations and more.

“We made sure on the first day they arrived (at Southern Cross School of Distance Education where some students are relocated) there were bags there for them that had school equipment and they also made sure we had school uniforms for the children,” Ms Anderson said.

“When you have nothing it’s so important for there to be some level of normality for our kids.

“It hasn’t just been about our school, we can’t move forward with just our students, we have to have our community come along with us.”

Local Heroes Rebuilding Communities. Picture: Supplied

When the floods hit Northern Rivers earlier this year, News Corporation Australia announced a $1 million commitment to hard hit communities.

Our News In The Community program has been working with St Vincent de Paul and other charity groups on the ground to allocate the funds.

As part of that commitment, News Corp has donated a total of $200,000 to nine flood relief community initiatives and one flood-affected individual in the worst-hit regions.

Part of the school’s incredible effort will now be assisted with $20,000.

For more information on how you can help, contact [e-mail]

Download a copy of the R U OK? Mateship Manual to find out how you can help someone doing it tough after natural disaster.