Community Update From The Principal
Flood Emergency Community Update 9 March 2022: First steps on the road to recovery
Dear students, staff and families,
It was wonderful to see the students back at school as we reopened the College on Tuesday 8 March. The return of the daily routine of school life is a small but significant step in the process of recovery for all our community. It was lovely to see the students reuniting with their friends, laughing and playing together and supporting each other as they shared stories of the ordeal that has gripped our region for more than a week.
The staff were very well prepared and commenced with a number of activities to help students process their experience, ask questions about what has happened and manage the broad range of emotions they have felt in recent days. We also had additional counselling staff available to support student wellbeing.
Sadly, 15 staff and the families of more than 90 students have had major flooding in their homes. A number of families have had their businesses affected by flooding and in some cases, families are dealing with flooding to both their home and business. Many students have extended family and friends that have been directly impacted by the disaster. The damage and devastation is spread right across the community and there is a lengthy recovery ahead for all in our region.
In the midst of disaster and destruction, I have been struck by the incredibly generous and compassionate response of the community. It has been heart-warming and inspiring to see people coming together to support and care for those affected by the floods. Through the ‘help exchange’ we have set up using enquiries@eac.nsw.edu.au we have placed several families in accommodation, washed wardrobes of clothes, coordinated cleaning teams, distributed meals, clothing, bedding and furniture, linked trades and services to those in need and targeted wellbeing support. This service continues to operate so please contact us if you know someone in need of help or you wish to offer help in some form.
The Friends of EAC have been providing free uniforms from the Uniform Shop and an anonymous donation of $2000 was given to The School Locker to provide vouchers to families needing uniforms, shoes and stationery. Friends have also donated $1000 worth of $50 vouchers that can be used at Coles and Kmart.
The College is providing lunch to all those students affected by flooding this week to save parents trying to manage that on top of all the other demands at this time. We are also preparing 100 individual serve meals each day for families to collect and use for dinner if they have been impacted by flooding.
The College will offer financial assistance in the form of fee relief to all those affected by the flooding. An application for Natural Disaster Financial Assistance will be distributed by the end of the week.
Our thoughts are with our friends at Simes Buses and Ballina Buslines who have had major flooding of their fleet. As a result, there has been significant disruptions to school bus runs. This includes the EAC Hinterland and Coastal bus services. We hope that all services will be restored by next week. Please contact the relevant bus company to get an update on which services are operating.
Accompanying this update is a list of resources to support students and families to manage the many questions and emotions that arise from dealing with a natural disaster and the trauma that it can cause. I have also included a prayer for people to offer when they have a moment of quiet time.
Thank you to everyone in our community for all that you have done to support one another during this difficult and challenging time. It is wonderful that in the midst of disaster we have seen the very best of people's goodwill come to the fore.
Mr Robert Tobias
Principal
A prayer for after a flood
Dear God,
Our world feels turned upside down,
we see sadness in the community around us.
Today we bring our sadness,
our worries
our fears
our uncertainties.
We pray for:
those whose homes have been hit hard by the floods;
those whose families have been shaken;
those whose business and work have been impacted;
We hold before you in our silence the names and faces of those
that we worry for, care about and who are hurting.
Bring them comfort and peace.
We thank you Lord for the hope we can see in our world,
the people who helped bring people to safety,
the people who have helped clean up
the people who have washed, or cooked, or hugged
those who have shared whatever they could.
We thank you that sometimes we can be those people,
the ones who shine light in dark times.
May we continue to love and support one another,
to be kind, compassionate and thoughtful.
Amen.
©Sallygal22