OPINION: Nimbin deserves empathy and support in wake of fire

NIMBIN’S heritage has been gutted by fire and some people want to make jokes about it.

SAD DAY: The mop-up operation was underway but the community was still reeling from waking to find fire had destroyed several Nimbin icons. Picture: Cathy Adams

NIMBIN'S heritage has been gutted by fire and some people want to make jokes about it.

Some of the comments on social media, including ones we have received on our Facebook page and online, are in poor taste.

People were seen crying in the streets as the main street of Nimbin was gutted by fire on Tuesday night.

It's just too soon to make jokes about it.

Sure, Nimbin's hippie heritage and links to the drug culture make it an obvious target for ridicule, but there is nothing funny about people losing their livelihoods, valuable art and historical artefacts being lost forever, workers losing their jobs and firies risking their lives to save the whole of the main street from going up in flames.

There is nothing funny about people losing their livelihoods, valuable art and historical artefacts being lost forever, workers losing their jobs and firies risking their lives to save the whole of the main street from going up in flames

Even this paper has poked fun at Nimbin over the years.

But now is not the time.

We need to get behind the residents and community leaders and re-build this iconic town.

It is one of the most beautiful and historic towns in our region.

It is also an important tourist destination.

And the people who live there will be in shock and need our support.

This is not the time for derision and divisiveness.

Nimbin needs the same amount of attention as if it was the main street of Ballina, Byron or Lismore that had been damaged.

So instead of making snide remarks, how about we set about re-building this iconic town and get it back on its feet. Instead of joking about joints, let's fix the joint, and fix it quick.