Help Claire, Courtney & Wendy rebuild their lives
Donation protected
My name is Jemma and I am long time friend of this wonderful family.
On the 2/03/2022 Claire, Courtney & Wendy Wright of East Coraki along with their whole Australian Stock Horse stud 'Ironrose Stock Horses', had their lives completely turned upside down and had every single possession destroyed in the recent biggest flood ever recorded in the Northeastern NSW flood disaster.
Courtney & Claire were emergency evacuated; they had to leave everything including their beloved 22 horses. Stallion, mares, foals, show horses, polocross, competition horses and mares in foal. In which only two horses survived.
48 horrendous hrs after leaving, Courtney and Claire with help from neighbours in a boat managed to get home.
A orphan foal and mini Tradie and Larry whom they have locked in their horse truck to try and keep them above rising water were somehow and thankfully alive.
One yearling filly Fiddle was located not far from home in knee deep water. All three were given antibiotics and a vet has been organised to go out by boat to give them a thorough check. Unfortunately Fiddle had to be euthanised due to toxic shock.
3 broodmares and 2 yearlings were also located deceased.
Claire describes the events leading up to the flood, and she bravely described it, “Well, given that we usually have 2 days between Lismore flooding, and it getting to us we weren’t too concerned. I’d
packed up my paperwork, cameras (Claire is a regular photographer at equine events, along with competing) and other valuables up as high as I could and packed an overnight bag with a few clothes and
essentials - just in case. Not half an hour after finishing that, the water started coming inside
our home -built 1.5m above the 1974 flood level. For another 3 hours we shuffled about moving belongings up higher. At 1am, we were up
to our bellies in water and decided to wait out the night in our hay loft. Thankfully, our lights stayed on, and we were able to keep an eye on
the water level. Bit by bit, it continued to rise. Without phone service or internet, it was difficult to access information on river height, peak
times, tides etc. We were essentially blind and felt nothing but despair. We called the SES and also 000 requesting evacuation, but no one came. We
heard helicopters flying over but no one stopped. We waited all night, listening to our horses and poddy calves crying out until daylight when we went out to shift them. It was torture knowing that in the dark, and in the water, we couldn’t do anything to help them. They were all still there at 6am, even the foals. We let them all out of their yards to prevent them being pinned and trapped against the fences by the now fast flowing flood waters. We then filled hay nets for them and managed to get Larry and Tradie (IRONROSE TRADITION – HSH) onto the truck. By 9.30, we were evacuated by boats belonging to neighbours. There were half a dozen horses still here when we left. The others were already being washed away or swimming in the flood waters.
We saw one of our foals deceased on the way to higher ground. Mum organised a lift back home in the afternoon to feed and water anyone still here. There was only two still swimming and the two boys on the
truck.
The house was filled almost to the ceiling with water, only half a metre below. This means that all clothing, furniture, electronics, bedding, kitchen appliances, etc etc are all wiped out.
Claire and Courtney are currently homeless and rebuilding the home and farm as well as there new bare block will be an monumental task and a financial stretch.
Claire describes the events leading up to the flood, and she bravely described it, “Well, given that we usually have 2 days between Lismore flooding, and it getting to us we weren’t too concerned. I’d
packed up my paperwork, cameras (Claire is a regular photographer at equine events, along with competing) and other valuables up as high as I could and packed an overnight bag with a few clothes and
essentials - just in case. Not half an hour after finishing that, the water started coming inside
our home -built 1.5m above the 1974 flood level. For another 3 hours we shuffled about moving belongings up higher. At 1am, we were up
to our bellies in water and decided to wait out the night in our hay loft. Thankfully, our lights stayed on, and we were able to keep an eye on
the water level. Bit by bit, it continued to rise. Without phone service or internet, it was difficult to access information on river height, peak
times, tides etc. We were essentially blind and felt nothing but despair. We called the SES and also 000 requesting evacuation, but no one came. We
heard helicopters flying over but no one stopped. We waited all night, listening to our horses and poddy calves crying out until daylight when we went out to shift them. It was torture knowing that in the dark, and in the water, we couldn’t do anything to help them. They were all still there at 6am, even the foals. We let them all out of their yards to prevent them being pinned and trapped against the fences by the now fast flowing flood waters. We then filled hay nets for them and managed to get Larry and Tradie (IRONROSE TRADITION – HSH) onto the truck. By 9.30, we were evacuated by boats belonging to neighbours. There were half a dozen horses still here when we left. The others were already being washed away or swimming in the flood waters.
We saw one of our foals deceased on the way to higher ground. Mum organised a lift back home in the afternoon to feed and water anyone still here. There was only two still swimming and the two boys on the
truck.
The house was filled almost to the ceiling with water, only half a metre below. This means that all clothing, furniture, electronics, bedding, kitchen appliances, etc etc are all wiped out.
Claire and Courtney are currently homeless and rebuilding the home and farm as well as there new bare block will be an monumental task and a financial stretch.
Claire was asked if she was to win the loto tomorrow, how would you spend it to get your new block of land able to accommodate the rebuilding of the Ironrose Stock Horse Stud – so you and Courtney would be able to live on a Flood Free property?“
She hard pressed replied
1. Steel pickets
2. Plain wire / electric tape
3. Insulators
4. Water tank/s
5. Water troughs
6. Poly pipe to be dug in to service water troughs
7. Solar electric fence energiser
8. Yard panels
9. Use of some Machinery to replace old gates, spray weeds, slash, trim trees back etc
10. Agronomist help to replace the setaria grass (which causes Big Head, lameness and fractures in horses) with more horse friendly pastures.
11. 1Earth moving contractors to get a driveway sorted, then do our slab and shed
12. To get some sun/rain shelters and stables for the horses.
13. Dream would be to live “off the grid” power wise and be an environmentally friendly horse stud, using pasture rotation, regenerative pasture management etc.
She hard pressed replied
1. Steel pickets
2. Plain wire / electric tape
3. Insulators
4. Water tank/s
5. Water troughs
6. Poly pipe to be dug in to service water troughs
7. Solar electric fence energiser
8. Yard panels
9. Use of some Machinery to replace old gates, spray weeds, slash, trim trees back etc
10. Agronomist help to replace the setaria grass (which causes Big Head, lameness and fractures in horses) with more horse friendly pastures.
11. 1Earth moving contractors to get a driveway sorted, then do our slab and shed
12. To get some sun/rain shelters and stables for the horses.
13. Dream would be to live “off the grid” power wise and be an environmentally friendly horse stud, using pasture rotation, regenerative pasture management etc.
Please, if you have anything you wish to donate we would love any kindness shown and will be immensely appreciated..
Organizer
Jemma Green
Organizer
Tatham, NSW