As the scale of flood destruction in Lismore and the surrounding Northern Rivers region becomes clear, Lismore Bishop Greg Homeming OCD has launched a fundraising appeal to meet the needs of people who have lost everything.
With St Carthage’s Cathedral swamped, Bishop Homeming has reached out to the Catholic community, on behalf of people in Lismore and across the region including in Tweed Heads, Ballina, Casino, Woodburn and Grafton.
“This has all happened at a time when we were hoping that 2022 would be a year of hope, a good year,” he said, launching an online appeal.
“Our last flood in Lismore was in 2017 and I don’t know that we’ve really as a community recovered from that flood. COVID hit. Fires hit, and we’ve been in I suppose a state of hope looking to the future.
“Now we’ve been hit again at a time when our hearts were already heavy with the many things that have happened.”
NSW Premier Dominic Perottet has declared recovery from last week’s flooding will take years.
The death toll stands at five, and officially 800 buildings across the region have been severely damaged, with floodwaters reaching the ceiling of more than 1500 homes and businesses.
There have been more than 1500 flood rescues during the last week.
There’s frustration from locals at the pace of relief and clean-up operations, just as hundreds of Australian Defence Force personnel have arrived to help in the hardest-hit towns.
To donate to the Diocese of Lismore flood appeal, visit the Diocese of Lismore website.
