Community groups and businesses from around the region have banded together to help people affected by floods in northern New South Wales.
The CCC Community Flood Relief Drive included about 60 tonnes of donations and a convoy of trucks and vans carrying full loads to Evans Head and surrounds.
The initiative was essentially run by the team from Buddina-based building firm Campbell Construction Co, as they rallied support from around the Sunshine Coast.
CCC founder and CEO Ben Campbell, who was born and bred in northern New South Wales, fielded a phone call from work-mate Kenny McLean who said there had to be a way to help those who had lost their homes and businesses.
There was no hesitation to make it happen.
“If people are in genuine need – I’ll always jump in to help,” Ben said.
A few phone calls later, they devised a plan, The CCC Community Flood Relief Drive — an opportunity for the Coast to donate vital supplies and have them delivered to the Northern Rivers region.
The response from the community and local business owners was inspiring.
Thousands of donations were made including medical supplies, water, cleaning products, clothes, toys, prams, food, bbqs and more.
Within hours, the Campbell Construction Co Office was transformed into a sea of donations, to sort, pack the trucks and prepare to hit the road.
Members of Campbell Construction Co and The Surf Club Mooloolaba jumped on board, volunteering their time, for what was meant to be a couple of hours help and subsequently turned into 20-hour days.
The relief drive embarked on its journey on March 7, including a convoy of four large trucks, three large vans and a ute carrying generous donations to the people of Evans Head and surrounding areas.
Ben said there were confronting scenes upon arrival.
“I have been to over 30 natural disaster areas and worked in all of them, including cyclones, fires and this by far is the worst,” he said.
“Countless homes and businesses emptied and uninhabitable, with streets lined with endless mud and contents.”
The convoy arrived at Evans Head F111 Museum, where the team unloaded the items into designated areas for locals to come and collect as needed.
Trips were then made to Evans Head Senior Citizens Hall to drop off food.
After hours of travelling, unpacking and sorting, the team also hosted a barbecue for the community.
For some it was the first hot meal that they had in days and it was a chance for them to console one another.
There was a sense of gratitude from the locals in appreciation for what the Sunshine Coast community had contributed during their time of need.
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As the clean-up continued across northern New South Wales and the communities start to rebuild their lives, Ben has reached out for more help.
“It’s going to be a long slow slog for them, they need so much more support,” he said.
Campbell Construction Co is planning a second donation run and this time the list of items will be different due to the changing needs of the impacted communities.
Keep an eye on Campbell Construction Co for further details.
Community groups and businesses that donated much needed goods: Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club, Your Mates Brewing Co, One Pure Water & JT’s Coconut Essence, Regan from White’s IGA, Homestyle Bakery Sunshine Coast, Super Butcher, Dougherty Property, Westlawn Finance Ltd, Diamond Partners Wealth Management, QEBS – Builders Warehouse, 92.7 MIX FM, 91.9 SEA FM, The Happy Snack Company, Hank’s Kitchen, FPM Cereal Milling Systems Limited, Sunshine Mitre 10, Cotton Tree Meats, Suncoast Fresh, Kleer Ice Supplies, Mick Best Crane Hire, Amy Bennett and the team from McGrath Coast and Hinterland, Morse Building Consultancy, Rockwall Partners Pty Ltd, Action Construction Equipment Ltd, Impact Wrap Australia, GoTransit Media Group, Poole Group, Karen McIntyre, Campbell Construction Co.
