Cabbage Tree Island Flood Relief

Many of you may know that I recently spent time in the Northern Rivers regions with the NSW RFS, participating in Flood Relief Efforts. Our Strike Team was first onto Cabbage Tree Island, a small piece of land in the middle of the Richmond River. Cabbage Tree is an Aboriginal community of proud Bundjalung People; there are 200 residents, over half of whom are children. The island is home to a medical centre, a primary school with an 120-year history, and 23 dwellings that house families that date back over five generations on Country.

 

Engineers have deemed nearly every structure on the island unsafe, and most of the community and housing infrastructure will have to be rebuilt entirely. These families have lived together for over 150 years and are now displaced amongst the Northern Rivers region. The children are without their school and their mates. The community is without its cultural gathering places and safe spaces.

 

These families will need ongoing support to rebuild their community, and I was hoping you'd help. I am in contact with the Cabbage Tree Island Public School Principal. With your help, she will assist in getting much-needed funds to a community that needs assistance NOW to find accommodation, pay for transport, and buy basic food stuffs and clothing so they can begin rebuilding their lives. Cabbage Tree Island has lost everything except its indomitable community spirit. Let's help get the community of Cabbage Tree Island back on Country.

 

For more information, check out these links:

 

 

 

 

Radio National Cabbage Tree Island

ABC News Cabbage Tree

NITV Cabbage Tree Island