WE have all been shocked by the images that have come from the Northern Rivers region after recent flooding events.

Even some of the youngest members of our community have felt driven to do something, anything to help.

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The School Captains of Irrawang High School started a drive to collect donations of bottled water, long life milk, linen, pet food, nappies, toiletries and jerry cans.

The school worked with its three of its feeder primary schools – Irrawang Public School, Medowie Public School and
Grahamstown Public School – which all took donations from their school communities.

The response was exceptional – with the school captains not expecting the level of donations which were taken in.

This was all planned prior to the second flooding event which has hit the region.

Lue Fagan of Irrawang High School told News Of The Area, “Jo Cotton is a teacher’s aid and she and her husband Brett drove the goods to Lismore this week.

“There was a great deal of uncertainty about where the bus would actually deliver to as we were told Lismore collection centres were full.

“We found out the afternoon before the bus left.”

“They ended up at Casino and with help from the ADF unloaded the bus load at the Casino Showground.”

The organisers were assured that “all donations will be given to those that have been impacted by the floods in the Lismore region”.

Being centrally distributed from Casino meant the donations could also be distributed to some of the smaller centres that have been ravaged by the flood event in the surrounding areas including Woodburn and Coraki.

As soon as the bus was unloaded people were taking the goods.

“It was a massive effort and we are so proud of the whole community for their compassion and generosity.”

Donations to the schools came from the general public as well as the school community.

“Jo did the heavy lifting to make this happen and everything donated has gone to good use.

“We are sending out a special thank you to our school communities and the wider community who helped make the delivery of goods to communities in need possible,” she said.

By Marian SAMPSON