When the floods struck in March, North Shore residents did everything they could to prepare but no-one expected the water to rise way above historic markers.

Eight months on and the impact of this deluge is still being felt by communities nestled close to the Hastings River, including single mum, Kylie, and her three children Kyra (9), Caleb (12) and Aidan (14), who lost everything in their downstairs area.

Kylie said she is slowly replacing pumps, mowers, washing machines etc, but was worried about how she would be able to replace the children’s belongings including bikes, go carts, scooters, skateboards and beach items that were destroyed in the flood.

Seeing Kylie’s need to help the children get some normalcy back, Kerry Meehan from the St Agnes’ Recovery Support Service (RSS) set about finding ways to support the family to do this.

On hearing of the family’s plight from Kerry at the weekly RSS meeting, Peter Johnson, St Agnes’ Catholic Parish General Manager, Risk, Compliance & Safety donated his bike to Caleb, who was at a real loss without one as, prior to the flood, he spent nearly all his time on his bike.

Kylie was so excited when told about the donation as she knew how happy Caleb would be to, again, have some wheels of his own.

This good news story might have ended there, but it didn’t.

MacKillop College teacher and sports coordinator and founder of the Make a Difference (MAD), Erin Denham, also secured a Spotlight voucher for the purchase of some art and crafts equipment for Kyra.

The family was also on the receiving end of another generous gesture, with the donation of a double bed for Aidan by an older member of our community who was moving into residential aged care and no longer needed it.

This story is a fine example of how our parish community works together for the common good!  A heartfelt thanks to all those involved in helping Kylie bring a little joy to her children during this challenging time of recovery.