Tweed woman Natasha Shearer’s flood relief triumph: ‘We do it out of our own pockets’

A Tweed wedding stylist has become a community hero across the Northern Rivers after helping thousands in the wake of the 2021-22 floods. Here‘s what sparked the inspiring movement.

Owner and operator of Affordable Wedding and Event Hire, Natasha Shearer, has traded flowers and bridal gowns to help flood-ravaged communities in the Northern Rivers after being impacted by the recent floods.

A Tweed woman has traded flowers and bridal gowns to help flood ravaged communities in the Northern Rivers after the region was impacted by recent flooding.

Affordable Wedding and Event Hire owner Natasha Shearer has teamed up with other flood-ravaged members of the community to help those desperately in need.

She created the Rebuilding Northern Rivers 2022 Facebook group, which has 4000 followers.

The “minions” out in their full force helping communities all over the Northern Rivers.

“We’re not a charity, we do it out of our own pockets” she said.

Ms Shearer said the group was not a charity or a non for profit organisation, rather a community group of volunteers dubbed “minions”, who have come together to help rebuild and supply much needed items to those affected by floods.

Ms Shearer’s movement has helped about 15,000 people across the Northern Rivers get back on their feet.

But as the flood recovery continued she said there was a significant amount of work to do.

“People are still living in third world country conditions … they feel failed by the government.”

The Affordable Wedding operator said the longer the flood clean up takes, the worse off the victims’ mental health will be.

“It puts their faith back in humanity … so they know they’re not forgotten.”

“The minions they put in so much effort … they work so hard when they could be rebuilding their own lives.”

Natasha Shearer.

Ms Shearer recalled working with her helpers to assist three generations of a broken family impacted by flooding.

“Just to see people’s gratitude and how happy they are means a lot to me.”

Ms Shearer said seeing the community’s gratitude and how happy they were with the assistance made her service worth the while.

“Something small to most people means the world to these communities … The small things we take for granted are what everyone needs,” she said.

“We’re not going to stop until everyone is connected to what they need”