Help Matt and Rach rebuild Playquest

Hi everyone, Matt's sister Kate here!

As many of you know, Matt and Rach have owned and operated Playquest, a play centre for children in the Lismore CBD, for a few years now. They have taken the time to cultivate a safe, fun and friendly space for the families and community of Lismore. They fought through flooding and the recent lockdowns of the Northern Rivers to keep the business open and support the local community.

Now, with the record-breaking 2022 floods in Lismore, like the majority of the CBD, their business was completely flooded and under water. Many of their own possessions were stored there and, as a result, have been lost as well.

They have lost so much, and yet Matthew was out in a boat first thing helping rescue people stranded on their rooftops, and Rachael was down in the community bringing phone chargers and supplies for people looking for loved ones. Once flooding began to affect Ballina they were down there as well, opening up Life Church for anyone who needed to evacuate and providing food and somewhere to sleep.

If you meet Matt and Rach, instantly, you can see their heart and genuine love for the people and community of Lismore, Ballina and the surrounding areas. Their emphasis throughout this crisis has been on the importance of people. Things can be replaced; human lives cannot.

They have been running on adrenaline, but soon the reality of the devastation and the long road to recovery will set in for the people of Lismore, and that's where we come in.

All donations will go to the cleanup, recovery and rebuilding of Playquest. Unfortunately, they haven't been able to get inside yet, so we don't know the extent of the damage. They are determined to open again and continue their legacy of love for the people they care so much about.

While currently living in Sydney, I grew up in Ballina and watching this disaster from afar has been horrific. Like many people, I have been looking for a tangible way to help.

If you can't give, please share. Anything is appreciated.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you so much for your help.

Kate