Help Emiko rebuild her life

Many of you may know or recognise our beautiful mum, Emiko, from the local markets at Byron, Bangalow, Channon and Mullumbimby where she has been running the Japanese food stall for over 30 years. Her’s is one of the last standing original food stalls. Over the years our mum has fed thousands of people and employed hundreds of people. Emiko has also sold Japanese food at the Byron Blues festival for 16 years, Splendor in the Grass and at the local sports club kitchen in Burringbar.

 

Like countless others, mum’s life has been devastated by the recent floods in Eastern Australia. She lives on a steep property in Burringbar on the land of the Bundjalung people. At 7:50pm on 28th February, during the devastating floods in the far north coast NSW, a giant mass of volcanic rock collapsed from the top of a ridge onto my mum’s property, creating two landslides. The largest of the two landslides crumpled her vacant house and continued on to destroy a neighbouring property. The second landslide deposited an estimated 10 tonnes of mud and rock behind her main house pushing through the kitchen and settling under an unfinished extension. Right now, an additional large mass of unstable volcanic rock sits directly above her house and what is left of the kitchen. This rock could fall at any moment.

 

For 3 days our mum was alone and afraid, without power, phone, water or internet. We are so grateful to her friends Drew and Adam who were eventually able to make it to the house to check on her and help her cross the fast flowing creek (Drew and Adam you are wonderful people)

 

Two years ago she was able to upgrade her old kitchen to a proper commercial kitchen. Sadly, however, due to a loss of income during Covid and bad weather in the local area, many markets were cancelled and she let her insurance lapse. Our mum now faces the daunting task of rebuilding. She will not only need to rebuild her kitchen, but due to the continuing risk of landslide, her entire house needs to be rebuilt in a safer location.

 

At 69 years old, our strong, courageous, and hard-working mum faces a daunting task. She has given up so much not just for us but many others over the years, always helping when she can. She would never ask for help but she needs it now more than ever, which is why we are doing this on her behalf. With your help she can rebuild her house and commercial kitchen and once again attend the local markets to offer you delicious food and a smile.

 

We understand so many of you are also struggling with this current disaster and are unable to provide financial contribution which makes this so hard to write. Even sharing this message with your family and friends would go a long way in helping mum and reach those who might be able to assist us.

 

We would like to acknowledge the Burringbar community for your wonderful support and kindness. Thank you to the amazing efforts of all the volunteers who assisted us through this difficult time shovelling mud, packing and moving her belongings, providing meals or a joke and a hug. We are forever grateful. We also acknowledge and pay our respects to the Bundjalung people and their elders past and present. This is and will always be your land.