Sending Rainbows: Coraki CW, Gosford preschools connect through kid’s book in wake of 2022 northern NSW floods

A Northern Rivers preschool smashed by the 2022 floods has been given a much-needed boost with a bespoke children’s book produced by a Central Coast teacher, with help from her young students, more than 630km away.

A heartfelt story about strength, courage, resilience and love has been warming the hearts of a small North Coast community still recovering from devastating floods in 2022.

Coraki CW Preschool is among 11 preschools destroyed and displaced in the record natural disaster. The clean up bill has been huge.

But a children’s book written and illustrated by an early childhood educator and her class 636 kilometres away has given the educational centre a much-needed boost.

Coraki CW Preschool from above during the 2022 flood disaster. Picture: Supplied

Suzie Carey, Coraki CW Preschool centre manager and teacher said the preschool received the book titled Sending Rainbows as part of a care package from colleagues and children at Gosford Preschool in the midst of the recovery.

Suzie Carey reads to the children. Picture: Supplied

The publication by Gosford author, illustrator and early childhood educator Donnalee Collins still gets a lot of use today.

“There were lots of resources, but the most important thing was this book and the drawings of rainbows the kids had actually drawn for us – just to show a connection, that there were others thinking of us,” Ms Carey said.

Suzie Carey, Coraki CW Preschool centre manager and early childhood teacher. Picture: Supplied

Set at Gosford and Coraki preschools, the fictional story about mateship explains the impact of the Northern Rivers floods from the perspective of native animals and shows how they help each other.

The book using watercolours features three animals living in a tree at the Coraki early education centre.

Ms Collins illustrates the floodwater rising and each animal further up the tree taking in the one scambling from below. Finally, they are all at the top of the tree alongside a resident magpie who sings for help – and is heard all the way in Gosford.

Maggie Magpie hears the call and sings back – sending a rainbow that stops the rain, the sun comes out and the waters recede.

Maggie Magpie sings in the book. Picture: Supplied

Ms Collins said the book came about because her preschool wanted to help the young ones at another community centre understand what happened during and after the floods, in a way that was easy for children to follow.

“The children are seeing that (floods) and not quite understanding it. They can see people are upset and distressed and they’re asking questions about it,” Ms Collins said.

Lizzy Lizard climbs up to Pam Possum’s home (left) to escape rising floodwaters in the book. Picture: Supplied

“I drew pictures of both our preschools so as soon as they start reading the book they could identify with it.

“Coraki preschool were sending out messages to families telling them Lizzy Lizard is OK so we knew they had a lizard called Lizzy Lizard, so that’s where this character in the book comes from.

“Here at our preschool, we’ve adopted a magpie we call Maggie Magpie, so I was able to bring those characters into the book because both schools could identify with them.”

Ms Collins said the idea of the rainbow came from the kids’ love of rainbows, often seen after rain: “The rain would stop if a rainbow came out because the sun would come out.”

Pam Possum, Lizzy Lizard, and Coraki Magpie sing out for help in Sending Rainbows.

“I also wanted to give the children of Coraki the emotional understanding that they were not alone, at a level they would understand,” she said.

“When I read the story the children are delighted to see their preschool and local magpie. It instantly makes them want to hear more and evokes questions about floods, what they are, and how they can help.

“There are no words to describe how much it warms my heart to know that the children and families at Coraki connected with the book too and in this small way helped them heal.”

Sending Rainbows. Picture: Supplied

With the help of an Essential Energy grant, the Coraki children received Sending Rainbows as a gift and copies were donated to the local library.

“The children and educators at Gosford were participants in writing the story … it was really good to know it was done from them all,” Ms Carey said.

Ms Carey still uses the book as a conversation starter when kids ask about the “big water”, often during persistent rain in the region.

She said it’s not always clear what will happen, but they can show children there will be a rainbow when the downfalls stop.

“That rainbow shows that other people are thinking about us and they’re willing to hop in and help,” Ms Collins said.