Community Volunteers of Gillieston Island

‘Gillieston Island’ formally know as Gillieston Heights is a semi-rural urban area near the township of Maitland that has been isolated due to the July 2022 unprecedented rainfall & flooding event that left this community of approx. 5000 residents isolated for more than 8 days (still counting the days).

Island life as we know it constants of a number of community minded individuals who have gone about and beyond to support this large community; coordinating resupply of donated food to those in need; supporting and checking in on the elderly and vulnerable; coordinated the safety and supply of food for livestock & pets; using personnel equipment such as boats to ferry people off the island, support with medical evacuations & the resupply of goods.

These local heroes all resident here or nearby the island & majority of them have lost income due to being unable to leave the Island. The weekly government payment under the disaster recovery allowance is approximately $320, for most this would not cover rent / mortgage replacements for an individual residing in Gillieston Heights.

As a new resident to Gillieston Heights, with an emergency service background, I am incredibly proud, astounded and overwhelmed every day by the local heroes who are working around the clock, sacrificing income, personnel assets, personal safety and family time to support their local community during the response phase of this flood emergency.

The intent of this go fund me page it to provide compensation to our island heroes; who have lost income and can’t pay rent but have been spending the last 8 days coordinating food to ensure no one goes hungry; the heroes who have damaged their personnel boats wading in and out of flood water ensuring people have safe passage off the island who aren’t being paid or are usually annual leave to provide this service to the community, the list goes on.

Please give where you can for these amazing heroes ♥️