Whilst being mindful of the potential compassion fatigue that inevitably occurs when a disaster takes place, we request that you take 5 minutes to consider the following:

My name is Louisa Tsadik, and I am a family friend of the Campbell family, longterm residents of Upper Wilson's Creek, outside Mullumbimby in Byron Shire. Pleases help raise funds for the Campbells (Jason 50, Kristen 50ish, Shuran 22 and Leela 13). Their home in a small community in Upper Wilson’s Creek outside Mullumbimby was devastated by a landslide during the recent February 2022 floods. The landslide tragically killed Leela’s godmother, carer and best friend, Heather. We are seeking to raise money so that the family can afford bond money to rent a new home and to buffer and support the family as they absorb these massive life-changing losses whilst living amongst and supporting a now traumatized wider community.

 

Early on Monday 28th February 2022 around 4:30am, during the most terrifying hours of the unprecedented deluge that devastated the Northern Rivers, a landslide swept through a small community of close friends who have lived together in Upper Wilson's Creek for nearly 2 decades. When it was safe to venture out, Jason found that the area where Heather’s small blue cottage had once stood, had been buried underneath hundreds of tonnes of mud, rock and fallen trees - the landscape forever changed. For the next 3 days, the remaining members of the community huddled together in a small cottage on the property without power whilst waiting for the flood waters to subside and emergency services to reach them. Heather’s body was irretrievable. She rests in peace now under a massive fig tree that remained standing, which is also poetically the resting place for the ashes of her late husband.

 

While the “spirit of Byron” is now hard to find on the streets of Byron Bay, it is found flourishing, often in glorious rebellion, in the small hill towns and communities that are dotted throughout the ranges outside Byron Bay.

Up in the rainforest the people have built small communities that are centred around self sufficiency, close connection to nature and a generosity that comes from sharing resources in order to live a simple life. These communities have been decimated in the floods, and whilst the locals are working together with astounding resilience and will power to rebuild their roads and homes, they need help. The Campbells are in fear of returning to their home as it is also at risk, understandably, they do not feel able to return to the place where the reminder of such loss is directly outside their front door. Jason and Kristen are self employed, Jason a landscaper and masseuse and Kristen a yoga teacher. They serve their community yet have not been able to work through this time and are now picking up the pieces of their own lives, wellbeing and emotions. Jason is dealing with an acute stress reaction from being first on the scene after the landslide that buried his closest friend and it may take some time before he is ready to be in service to others. It is vital that they find a home and get some specific psychological counselling for the family so that their recovery is not hindered by ongoing trauma.

Of greatest concern to all is the impact that losing Heather may have on Leela who is 13 years old. Heather was present at Leela’s birth, became her godmother, babysitter and best friend, who was present at every milestone of Leela’s life. During COVID lockdowns over the last 2 years, Leela remained content up in the hills away from her school and friends her age, she had Heather by her side. They were best friends despite the age difference of more than 50 years. Money raised will go directly to the Campbells and would assist the family in finding a stable home in this crushing housing crisis, support Leela through the journey of grief that she must make at such a young age, and will ensure that Leela can continue to live in and attend school in the only community she knows, Mullumbimby and surrounds.

 

Our heart goes out to all affected by these floods. Our gratitude goes to all the many many people who have helped over the past 2 weeks in the recovery effort. Without each other, where would we be?

Thank you for considering.