I grew up in rural northern New South Wales, about 20 minutes’ drive from the town of Lismore which is currently experiencing the worst natural disaster in its history.
I attended school in the town and played cricket for Marist Brothers Juniors and Lismore Workers’ Club.
For anybody who’s spent a few years living in or near Lismore, flooding is a part of life. Most of the town and surrounding farmlands are low-lying and very flood prone. It doesn’t take much for roads to be submerged and vulnerable buildings infiltrated.
On many occasions, Lismore’s flood levee has served it well. On a few notable occasions, it’s been breached. Again, this is not surprising given I was a local and given the deluge that’s hit us here in Brisbane over the past few days.
But this is different.
I didn’t expect to be shocked by some of the photos of Lismore that have emerged in the past few hours. I knew from media reports and friends living in the area that this was the worst flood yet.
Right now, the priority is the welfare of the town’s citizens and, once the waters subside, returning the community to a functioning state. The locals, supported by their federal, state and local representatives, will make it happen. They’ve done it before and will do so again.
The physical damage will take months to repair. The psychological impacts could take years to even emerge and start to be addressed.
There are few things more important to Lismore than community sport. Drive around the area between the CBD and Goonellabah on any given Saturday and you’ll see games going on everywhere.
I’m not about to suggest that sport is a cure for social ills. But it is part of the everyday social fabric; something that will make a small contribution to getting back to normal.
The thing that really shocked me in The Guardian’s report was the photo of the McDonald’s outlet on Lismore’s Brewster St.
The fast-food outlet in question is directly across the street from three of the main junior and lower grade cricket grounds in town. The main turf wickets adjoining Oakes Oval are not far behind where the photo was taken from.
When the photo was taken, each wicket was at least two metres below the flood waters, some of them more. These grounds have flooded before, but the scale of the damage to the surfaces and surrounding infrastructure this time will be devastating.
There’s a high riverbank, a hill and a levee between the river and those grounds. But we’re talking about a 14-metre wall of water this time around.
The cricket grounds in north and south Lismore will have been affected just as badly, as will the football, rugby league and rugby union grounds in these areas.
Many of these grounds are municipal facilities and will be taken care of by the council. But there will be flow-on costs to clubs from repairs, restoration and insurance, plus revenue lost as a result of the disaster.
A certain member of the federal executive drew considerable ire in recent days after setting up a GoFundMe appeal for people affected by flooding in Brisbane.
While I’ve no time for the Minister in question, I’m quite prepared to accept it was a genuine attempt to help his local community.
The problem is the politicisation of community fundraising by a high-ranking politician. The first, second and third priorities of such a Minister should be using the considerable levers of the federal government to help citizens and taxpayers in need.
When they’ve done the job they owe taxpayers, the community can tend to our private institutions.
If you see a Lismore-based cricket club appealing for help, they almost certainly need it. Please consider a contribution.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
To have this flood so close, in time, to the 2017 flood which was close to 1974's level is concerning. I expect La Nina's to become much wetter as climate change takes hold.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Never seen anything quite like it. They are suggesting a 1 in 1000 year event. Feel for the folks in Lismore & those that have suffered.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Stay safe mate :thumbup:
John66
Roar Rookie
Day 3 of this rain bomb was more suited to Michael Phelps and Jacques Cousteau...
Tony
Roar Guru
Where's that pelican Tim Flannery when you need him?
Redcap
Roar Guru
I was there on day 3 watching Phil Jacques and Matthew Phelps mostly. Jacques absolutely destroyed the Vic's that day.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
The inaugural Shield match at Oakes Oval, back in 2005-2006, was abandoned as a draw after three days' play. The teams left Lismore at breakfast on the fourth morning, otherwise overnight flooding would have cut them off from the airport and the road out to Brisbane- https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/pura-cup-2005-06-222345/new-south-wales-vs-victoria-233179/match-report
Redcap
Roar Guru
It's heartbreaking. I feel a bit ridiculous sitting here in Brisbane and talking about cricket. https://twitter.com/At_Raf_/status/1498809823378374656?s=20&t=m_h9Qt3TCFXpYvyExgbuOg
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
I’ve since checked it out AMD. Richie’s parents spent some time living in Coraki when Richie was a young lad but that as far I’m aware is his only connection to the Northern Rivers.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
People in real shock here. South, North, Central and Lismore CBD is a real blow. Lismore is a prime candidate for a relocation.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Are you at South or North Lismore? I'm sometimes at my daughter's right behind the hospital (northside). At Wollongbar for a while yet.
Redcap
Roar Guru
I don't think Richie was from Lismore. Adam Gilchrist certainly is - his old man often held coaching clinics in the town when I was a kid. A mate and I once went for a session at the Gilchrist family home - they had a net and bowling machine in the backyard. It was awesome.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yeah in Lismore. Not sure I could get through to your suburb on roads yet
Lukestar
Roar Rookie
Cheers mate. It's absolutely pouring rain but the wind has dropped off. There wasn't too much rain overnight.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
Isn’t Richie Benaud a local too?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The biggest improvement to my batting was getting glasses at age 35. I didn't know how bad my myopia was. When people said you've gotta watch the ball in my head I'd say, "Yep, watch the ball is so very important because l can't even see it". I just thought I was a bad bat. In my first innings back I put 2 bouncers behind square. They didn't go to the boundary but the important thing was that I rolled my wrists to keep the ball down. And l could do that because I finally could actually see the ball.
Redcap
Roar Guru
All the best, Luke.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Stop enjoying my terrible bowling. :happy:
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'm moving to the 5th planet orbiting Alpha Centauri, so it's all "meh" to me.
Redcap
Roar Guru
The planet's actively trying to get rid of us, but we shouldn't do anything serious because it might cause a slight, short-term reduction in corporate profits. These companies need to be able to pay bonuses and hire retiring/deposed Cabinet Ministers. Where are your priorities, Jeff?