Living across the road from the Richmond River, Rod and Margaret Waters were on the front line of the 2022 flood. At the peak of the flood the bottom floor of their two-storey home was completely underwater, and the flood waters licked at the top step at the entranceway to their second storey.
“We were in the house. We woke up at about six o’clock and the water was at the second or third step. By three o’clock in the afternoon it was up over the top step,” Rod said.
“One of our nephews and our granddaughter’s husband came two or three times to tell us we had to go but Marg wouldn’t leave. The water was that far up, coming over the railing, up the stairs that they said ‘we’ll get the police’, and she said, ‘well, get the police’!”
“I said I don’t want to leave, I want to stay and lift things up as it comes in!” Marg said.
The couple eventually had to get out, jumping into a rescue boat that they reached from their upstairs balcony, such was the water’s height. They stayed with friends for a couple of days before moving back upstairs as soon as they could.
Rod has health issues that will soon prevent him from getting upstairs. Their plan was to live in the downstairs area, which is why Rod said they were “so grateful” that Resilient Lismore’s Repair to Return team could help make the ground floor liveable again.
As well as cleaning up, the Repair to Return team hung three internal doors, one external laundry door and trim, and two entrance doors. They installed a new vanity unit and toilet in their downstairs bathroom, repaired the shower rose and taps, installed a new shower rail and curtain, attached gyprock sheeting on the ceiling in the hallway, laundry, and main downstairs room, and had an electrician install six downlights in the downstairs living area.
A plasterer installed the cornice and set all joins in the ceiling.
“The whole place was an absolute mess (after the flood),” Rod said.
“The team were brilliant, they really were. Nice girls and they got stuck into it. They worked as a team too. They all knew what they were doing,” he said.
“They were good. They were right into it,” added Marg.
The Waters missed out on NSW government funding and were referred to Resilient Lismore by the Mid-Richmond Neighbourhood Centre.
“Next thing we know we had (Repair to Return project manager) Grant coming down, and a plumber and an electrician as well,” Rod said.
“They put two new doors on for us and it’s gone from there.
“We’re so grateful.”
