As the torrential rain that inundated much of the Illawarra finally eased and the sun came up, photos of the destruction from Saturday morning’s deluge began to appear on local community Facebook groups. Offering a hub for local news, from roads closed to areas to avoid, these groups also provided a place for the community to come together with offers of help, of free coffees and food for those worst affected.
Jaime-anne of Bellambi, who woke up to water lapping at her own front door, posted that she and her 11-year-old son were ready to help anyone who needed it. She was contacted by a fellow Bellambi resident whose garage and its contents were inundated.
“I feel in times like these we really need to be a community and help who ever needs help, “ Jaime-anne said. “I also feel this was a great chance to show my son how we can spread kindness and look after others.”
Photos of rubbish-strewn local beaches were soon met with calls to action, to ‘grab a bag and gloves and meet at the beach’, and photos of the subsequent piles of debris that people had picked up in the clean-up effort.
Kylie Madden, whose property was also affected, collected everything from rusting gas bottles to broken surfboards as she walked the coast. “My kids both went down separately with their mates and picked up bags and bags. Even the teenager,” she said.
Age didn't stop Len Garvey's young daughters, aged four and six, getting out and helping. Mum Kat Lynch said, "They just walked around with the wheelbarrow and shovels as it was obvious people would need help."
After getting caught in flood waters in Russell Vale, Samatha Mccauley found herself scrambling out of her broken-down car. Right in the middle of the deluge, she was helped by good samaritan Susan Miller and her husband, who got her to safety. While Samatha was safe, her car, reported to the SES, remained in the middle of the road. Lindsay Newton came across the scene and decided to help. "My mate Bailey and I noticed it as we came around the corner and thought it's best to take it out of harm's way," he said.
In Otford, Neighbourhood Forum 1 convenor Warwick Erwin reported that local residents Tom and Catherine had volunteered to help clean up Otford Causeway.
And while some cleaned up, others offered everything from humidifiers to clean clothes. By midday Saturday businesses were helping out where they could. Woonona Kebab House invited people who had been involved in the clean-up to ‘grab a feed on us, free of charge’ while Blackbird Thirroul offered free coffees on Sunday for those affected. Mad Tribe Brew Coffee Van not only posted that they would drop off free coffee to those cleaning up for others, but that locals were ‘paying it forward’ and donating coffees so that the van could continue to operate through Sunday.
Say what you want about social media, but amongst the ‘did anyone hear that bang?’ posts, requests for moving boxes and lost pets, community groups have become an immediate source of news during extreme events. They’re also a fantastic reminder that community spirit does still exist and that good deeds can go on and encourage others to do the same.
Found yourself with a garden full of debris? Wollongong City Council is offering free green waste drop-off to residents at Whytes Gully, Kembla Grange today, Sunday 7th, from 7.30am.
To share your stories of neighbourly aid, please get in touch.