Key findings from a new report by the Climate Council has found that climate change is firmly embedded in the 2022 flooding emergency that swept through southeast Queensland and New South Wales earlier this year, with some regions experiencing rainfall that was simply off the charts. And, with another flooding event occurring in NSW this week, it is becoming increasingly clear that we need to widen our response to the climate emergency.
You might remember the Koori Mail as one of the organisations we supported earlier this year, as they helped coordinate and raise funds for the community-led recovery response to the catastrophic flooding event that swept through the Bundjalung/Northern Rivers region in NSW.
Despite suffering extensive flood damage to their own headquarters and being forced to halt production of the newspaper for the first time in 30 years, Koori Mail immediately began coordinating massive flood relief efforts from their Lismore office, which became temporarily known as The Koori Mail Flood Relief Hub. Here, they not only fund-raised, but provided the community with access to essential goods and services such as temporary accommodation, food, medical supplies, other essential items, legal advice, community support, and general assistance. Just last week Koori Mail were presented with the Innovation Award at this year’s prestigious NAIDOC awards for these flood recovery efforts.
In what has now been described as one of the most extreme disasters in Australian history, the Koori Mail played a central role in their community, at a time when adequate and timely government support was thin on the ground. They threw everything into caring for their local community and now - they’re asking us all to show up and support their own recovery.
“The [Koori Mail] building is still structurally sound, however it has been completely destroyed and now we need to bring attention to rebuilding the home of Australia’s only independent fortnightly Indigenous newspaper. This includes severe damage left to the interior and exterior, and support to secure the remaining suites of the building to ensure the Koori Mail staff have adequate office space to continue full operations and production.”
— The Koori Mail
The Koori Mail gave (and continues to give) so much to their local community, especially during the floods, as well as providing an essential platform for the voices of Indigenous Australians - something that has been historically absent or widely underrepresented in the mainstream media. It was an honour to be able to provide them with $2,940, this time for the rebuild of their own headquarters, so that they can continue to keep the voice of Indigenous Australia strong, proud and relevant.
*Pure Community and Pure Finance have no direct affiliation with the organisations and causes listed above, we simply appreciate the work that they do, and choose to show our appreciation by donating to them.