Help Tina & Kenny recover from Lismore's flood

Hi, my name is Ashlee and I am starting this GoFundMe to help my cousin Tina Budd, her husband Kenny Gaffney and their daughter Pia to start over after the latest flood in Lismore has taken all of their possessions.Being fiercely independent I know they won't ask for help but are always amongst the first to offer it when needed.

Their home, which is built well above the 1974 flood level, was not expected to ever flood, which resulted in having no flood coverage in their insurance and being unprepared to evacuate.

We are eternally grateful for a neighbour who rescued all 3 of them (and dog) from the extreme rapidly rising water when he paddled by in a kayak. A terrifying experience with a baby in arms, not yet turned 1!

Flood waters rose to just shy of their ceiling and as such ALL of their possessions have been destroyed, including their car. They have been frantically cleaning and trying to salvage anything possible without any luck.

Tina Budd grew up in the Nambucca Valley to a well known local family. She attended both Nambucca Heads Primary and Nambucca Heads High School. Many Nambucca locals shopped at her parents Fruit & Veg Shop and played along side her and her family, representing Nambucca Squash club.

She went on to study at Lismore and became a dedicated primary teacher before taking to Bourke to go above and beyond for her students.

There she met her now husband Kenny. After many years they decided to move back to the coast to start a family of their own and purchased their home in Lismore. This last 12 months had already been a taxing year, with their daughter Pia being born prematurely and needing to spend time in the NICU.

Tina has always been an exceptionally generous person both with her time and financially. She is known to go above and beyond for those around her and an incredible way of being strong in the hardest of times.

Another hurdle to face will be the loss of income from Kenny being out of work at as a chef with his current workplace being destroyed by the flood along with a lot of other hospitality venue's in the area.

Tina, Kenny and Pia have a huge task ahead of them repairing structural and internal damage caused to their home, a new car as well as furniture, electrical goods, personal possessions and everything needed for a 1 year old. Any donations to help get them back on their feet will be forever appreciated.