The Recovery Support Service (RSS) office closed on 31 May after more than 12 months assisting people who were affected by severe flooding in March 2021.

A huge thank you to the RSS team for the amazing work you have done during this period. The ripple effects of your kindness and generosity of spirit will be felt by all those it touched for many years to come.

Apart from providing individual support for people as they navigated rebuilding their lives and homes, the RSS team also organised numerous outreach community events including a Barefoot Bowls fundraiser, three ‘Return to Joy’ wellbeing and resilience workshops, three Wholesome Collective workshops on cooking and nutrition, community BBQ’s, among other things.

While the Recovery Support Service has officially closed, its clients who may still need help have been referred to the appropriate support services.

The RSS team and its community partners have helped so many people in so many ways – here are a couple more people they’ve helped along the way:

Tacking Point Lions Club representative, Donna Munro presented RSS client Judy Smith (centre) with a new lawn mower as hers had been lost in the flood. Pictured also is Kerry Meehan from the RSS team, who acknowledged the important role community organisations like Lions have played aiding the flood recovery process.

Funds raised at the Barefoot Bowls Fundraiser, which was a collaboration between the RSS, Port City Bowls Club and Rotary Sunrise was shared between four RSS clients trying to rebuild their lives. Recipients, Kevin & Vicky Mitchell of Telegraph Point are pictured with RSS worker, Kerry Meehan receiving a cheque to assist them with flood recovery.

As we have done since the beginning, our Parish community continues to pray for everyone affected by flooding both in the Hastings region and on the Northern Rivers.