If we needed any assurance that we are a community that cares, the amazing efforts of locals and local businesses to do all that they could to help the families whose properties were devastated in the recent storm at Corindi/Red Rock, is all the proof we need.
The immediate way locals got together to ensure the families had regular meals and help with moving damaged furniture and items from homes was inspirational.
The SES and RFS volunteers were absolutely outstanding during the storm. It was an incredibly dangerous situation and they didn't hesitate to rescue, look after and reassure all the people who were caught up in what is being called a one in five-hundred-year event. I'm just so glad no one was seriously hurt.
The next day I joined representatives from the local emergency management team in Corindi and we were all shocked at what we saw.
We organised for key Council staff to set up a temporary Recovery Centre at the Amble Inn from the following Friday to help coordinate a range of assistance. Bulky waste collections started as soon as possible for the affected properties. Information leaflets are being regularly updated with useful contact numbers and are being distributed at the Amble Inn and local shops, as well as handed out directly to residents with the assistance of Red Cross and SES volunteers.
As I write this, we're all still working closely with the community on the ground to provide all possible assistance.
Health Heroes
I visited Coffs Harbour Hospital recently to meet the frontline healthcare staff who have been working so hard and under such difficult conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I used the opportunity to thank them on behalf of the community for continuing to provide such a high level of healthcare for everyone, despite the potential risks involved of working on the frontline during a pandemic.
Very glad to see that they will be among the first to receive the new vaccines when they start being rolled out.
