THE Archbishop of Canterbury has visited Lismore, still recovering from record flooding, and praised locals on their courage, loyalty and resilience in the face of disaster.
Justin Welby, the Anglican leader worldwide, walked Lismore’s streets, chatting with locals still reeling after flooding in February and a second flood a month later.
He took time to praise the town’s spirit: the efforts of rescue and recovery workers, and the massive cleanup operation. He also visited St Carthage’s Catholic Cathedral – one of the many public buildings innundated by mud and water.
“Walking around the basin of this town today I feel overwhelmed with the grief that people have suffered,” he said, during his St Carthage’s visit.
“Deeply moved by their courage, their loyalty to one another and their resilience.
“We have much to learn from you.”
Lismore’s Catholic bishop, Greg Homeming warmly welcomed the visiting archbishop to his diocese.
“We stand together as bishops with a common experience of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one that we love, the one that we follow, but the one that we share our experience of with others,” Bishop Homeming said.
“And so I welcome you here. I thank you for being with us in our difficult times, and I hope and pray that the ecumenical spirit that you so wonderfully represent will continue and blossom and I think the foundation of the blossoming of ecumanism is indeed real friendship with Jesus Christ, which makes real friendship with each other.”
Lismore is still reeling from the impact of flooding that swamped the town in February and then again in March.
Many residents have been forced into temporary accommodation; others forced to leave.
Last week the Lismore diocese announced that changes would have to be made in four of its schools in order to receive future insurance coverage. Options include rebuilding or relocating.
“Advice from the Church insurer is that schools in high risk flood areas are uninsurable,” the Lismore diocese said.
“The Diocesan School Review Commission is assessing the next steps in light of this advice.
“Our Lady Help of Christians South Lismore, St Joseph’s Primary Woodburn and Trinity Catholic College are currently operating at temporary locations while St Joseph’s Primary, South Murwillumbah, has returned to Wardrop St and remains open for all students.”
