Northern Rivers floods: Residents show fighting spirit, offer food, shelter, basic care for flood victims
Not even one of the worst flood events in North Coast history could prevent good Samaritan’s from offering food and supplies to victims. See who is offering a helping hand.
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Jasmin Miller and her husband Simon felt helpless watching the horrifying footage of the devastating floods across the Northern Rivers.
It was a no-brainer for them to offer some space for evacuees to rest their heads.
The couple are offering part of their 160-acre property on Friday Hut Road Cloverlea in Binna Burra with about 60 acres in high flat areas that can take on livestock and horses.
They say they can help with keeping livestock, offering dry clothes, food and even housing machinery.
“I just want to help I feel helpless,” Mrs Miller said.
“We have spare room as well. We have been devastated by what’s happened.”
They have waited by the phone searching for updates for their friends currently battling the floods across the coast.
“I had friend lose everything in Mullumbimby last night, and my brother was staying at the Civic Hotel in Lismore who had to get rescued this morning,” Mrs Miller said
“His car was on the bottom floor it got washed up and so did his tools.”
Open for those in need
Before Michelle New has even been able to open her cafe for business, she’s opened the doors for those in need.
Located at the Golden Links estate Mrs New took over the business three weeks ago and has been working on painting and preparing for open.
There’s no food there but there is ovens, electricity and working toilets - more than some people in Murwillumbah on Monday.
“We can cook and provide hot water for people,” Mrs New said.
“If people want us to we’re welling to be there all day and night.”
The family have always been keen to help out with Mrs New’s husband a member of the Murwillumbah Rural Fire Service.
Their house and business have both escaped the weather event mostly unscathed, with just a small but manageable amount of water getting into their Murwillumbah home.
Seeing the devastation others in the area were dealing with she knew she had to do something to help.
“We were very, very lucky in 2017 (floods),” she said.
“We said if we ever got a chance to give back we would.”
The business doesn’t have food in it so they’re accepting donations which they will be able to prepare into meals and hand out to those who need it.
They’re also allowing people to bring their own food and use the microwaves or any of their other facilities if needed.
The renamed Thirteen Cafe, at 2 Golden Links Drive, won’t be ready to open for another two weeks, so in the mean time they’re helping those in need.
Byron Red Devils offer helping hand
The Byron Bay Red Devils have opened the doors to their clubhouse doors to people of the Northern Rivers as an emergency flood shelter.
The clubhouse which can hold a few dozen evacuees will be a dry place for people to escape flood zones, have a hot shower and use their amenities.
“A lot of people are struggling and Byron hasn’t been hit that hard but we have to do our bit for the Northern Rivers,” Club President Ben Webber said.
“The place is about 30 metres by 12 and has everything people need to freshen up and settle down.”
The club will be open for the next few days as historic floods devastate the Northern Rivers.
Do you know of good Samaritans helping out those in need? Tell us in the comments below.
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