Flooded Communities Need Your Support!

For the last few years, it seems as though someone has opened Pandora’s Box and forgotten to put the lid back on. Between bushfires, floods, COVID-19, and now floods again it's no wonder Australians are fatigued.  

If there is some small silver lining in all this, it's perhaps that, once again, communities around the country are really being brought together and the famous Aussie spirit is shining through.

Over the last week, social media feeds and newspapers have been choked with images of homes and roads underwater and people literally boating their way to safety across north-east NSW and south-east QLD, but it’s not just people losing their properties, they’re also losing their businesses as well.

Last Friday (4^th March) the Federal and NSW State governments announced that they will provide financial support for clean-up and recovery for the thousands of people and businesses impacted by the flooding in 17 Local Government Areas: Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hornsby, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, The Hills and Tweed.

A media release stated that grants of up to $50,000 would be available to small businesses via Services NSW to help them get back on their feet, which is “in addition to the federally funded $1,000 disaster relief payment and the 13-week income replacement for employees and small businesses”. 

A similar package is being offered to those in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North and South Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Western Downs.

We’ve been watching our Instagram feed fill up with images and videos of the destruction and we know of at least 100 of our own café customers who have businesses and homes in the affected areas.

Once the waters recede and they are able to recover and rebuild, we know that many of them will want to open their doors again. Bondi Chai will be contributing to their efforts by replacing stock that has been lost.

As we mentioned at the start of the article, events such as these bring together communities to support each other and we know that many of you would also like to donate to those who have been affected by this disaster. Here's a few of the organisations you can contact to offer help:

  -  Givit.org.au – officially working directly with the QLD and NSW governments

  -  Salvation Army
  -  Red Cross
  -  Vincent de Paul
  -  Lifeline QLD 

Finally, we’d like to give a big shoutout to the SES and emergency workers who have been helping those in need and keeping people as safe as possible. You’re doing an amazing job and we are thankful for your efforts!