Coraki Flood Relief Fund

The Coen Family from Quaama need your help!

We are running a GOFUND me for the flood devastated Coraki community in the heart of Bundjalung Country.

 We’ve chosen Coraki of all the small towns in trouble because of our own family connection… Coraki is home for our own daughter/sister/aunty Nicki, with her husband Michael and their little girl.

 Our goal is to raise at least $10,000 to help purchase: 

•white goods like washing machines and fridges 

•school uniforms and school gear, bags, books, stationery 

• Linen, bedding, mattresses and mosquito nets (with large bodies of water yet to recede; this is particularly important as there have been cases of Japanese encephalitis reported in the south of Queensland and north NSW) 

 If we can raise more, we will extend the list to include items such as: 

 Lawn mowers and whipper snippers Furniture

 House repairs

 Replacement vehicles

 Cash payments

 We asked our loved ones how we could help, of course we wanted to jump in a car and race straight to their aid…but this is what Nicki, Michael and their daughter wanted:

 Help for the most disadvantaged in their community.  

 Coraki is a small town about 1200 people, south-east of Lismore on the junction of the Richmond and Wilson Rivers. 

On 28th February these mighty rivers began to overflow and within 5 hours the township and surrounding district was inundated. 

For 6 days hundreds of people were trapped on an ‘island’ less than 500 metres wide and 1 klm in length.

Sharing this refuge were hundreds of pets, whole families sleeping in cars and on Church pews, with no power or gas to cook and running out of food.  

Vital medications from the pharmacy were stored in small camping fridges run by car batteries.  

 Telecommunications failed leaving people isolated and afraid.

No chance to say “we are safe” to worried loved ones. 

 Just five trained members of the SES and a handful of community volunteers using private boats worked tirelessly to rescue people and pets and coordinate food drops.  

Now the waters are receding, and Coraki’s resilience needs bolstering - there is a huge clean up ahead.   

We weep for their loss and worry for the long, difficult recovery ahead.  

 With waist deep water, mud, sludge and sewerage throughout their homes, very little is salvageable.  

 Heartbreaking video of our own sisters first family walk through their flooded home captured the anguished cries of their daughter as she realised her doll’s house, rocking horse and all her favourite books were ruined. Her safe home was gone. 

For many in this village and surrounds flood insurance premiums would have been unaffordable. 

Just like our home in the Eurobodalla and the Bega valley after the fires, many will be left struggling just to get together the basics.  

  This fundraiser isn’t about rebuilding houses, it’s about rebuilding lives.  

 Coraki is not a wealthy population, but it is rich in community spirit just like the small towns in our own area, devastated by fire two years ago. 

In our own communities of Eurobodalla and Bega Valley, we faced a horrific bushfire disaster and know the immediate and long-term impacts of natural disaster on a small town.

 While nothing can bring back what is lost or take away the trauma of surviving a disaster, we know regaining control over our lives is vital for emotional recovery.

 The shock and terror of having all control taken away is disorienting and can induce collective trauma.

 We want to give back some control with direct donations to those who need it most in the small community of Coraki.

 The support received after the unprecedented fires of 2019/21 was immensely encouraging and gave us strength during a very dark time.

 Help us return the love so Coraki knows their daily struggle for survival is not forgotten.

 Please give generously to help support the recovery of this small town. 

With grateful thanks Veronica, Nicki, Michael, Kavish, Loan, Kara, Merlin, Suzannah, Nell, the children and the extended Coen Family.