Flood Response: NSW Mid-North Coast

UPDATE: 3 June 2025

Thanks to your generous support of our flood response, our team on the ground has been able to:

Register 184 families to receive cash grants
Provide 383 servings of soup and bread to both the affected community and those responding, thanks to the ADRA Wauchope Community Connect Soupervan
Train 21 volunteers in Psychological First Aid
Assist with clean-up efforts for 10 homes

A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to our response. To Sanitarium Health Food Company AU for donating 8 pallets of food; the ADRA Op Shops in Albury, Coonabarabran, Guyra, and Ulverstone for their generous donations; our incredible team of volunteers and the Seventh-day Adventist Church for their support

To support ADRA’s response to the flooding, donate at adra.org.au/disaster. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

 

UPDATE: 31 May 2025

This Sabbath, ADRA NSW Regional Manager Lazio Crescentini shared his reflection about God’s provision during the flood response:

In light of our Sabbath School lesson today and this week, I want to share what happened last Sabbath. We were at Taree and working with the team on the best way to support the people affected by the floods. We had a gap, leaving some needs unmet. At that moment, Troy from our ADRA Wauchope Community Connect Soupervan project called us and offered to help with a team from Wauchope, and their offer was what we needed to fill the gap. It is God’s work, and it was great to see how God brought us all together at the same time to be His hands and feet in this time of need.

God bless,

Lazio Crescentini, ADRA NSW Regional Manager

UPDATE: 26 May 2025

ADRA is working with volunteers to provide financial assistance, clean-up support, food, and Psychological First Aid to those affected by the floodwaters on the mid-north coast of NSW.

Over the weekend, volunteers from Taree Seventh-day Adventist Church received training from ADRA on how to register people to receive financial support, as well as how to administer Psychological First Aid.

“Psychological First Aid is the best-practice approach to supporting communities that have been impacted by disasters,” says Naomi Vaotuua, ADRA Emergency Management Program Officer and psychosocial support focal point. “It is simple enough for anyone to learn and yet powerful in reducing vulnerability and helping to link people to further supports.”

Volunteers from Taree and Wauchope Seventh-day Adventist Churches joined ADRA Wauchope Community Connect Soupervan in Glenthorne, one of the most affected areas. The team of volunteers assisted with clean-up efforts with cleaning equipment provided by ACS. Those with training also provided Psychological First Aid and registered individuals in need of financial assistance so they could receive support.

“In times of disaster, cash assistance provides instant relief while allowing those affected to buy exactly what they need,” says Eric Leichner, Emergency Management Director for ADRA Australia. “Some families may need access to food, clothing, or other essentials. Cash gives them the flexibility to purchase what they need most.”

The SouperVan served warm soup for lunch and provided a space for connection and community.

A team of volunteers also visited local aged care units to assist those with flooding damage, as well as visiting the isolated island of Dumaresq.

A huge thank you to all of our volunteers for wholeheartedly serving your community.

To support ADRA’s response to the flooding, donate at adra.org.au/disaster. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

 

UPDATE: 24 May 2025

Locals in the Port Macquarie community wanted to help those affected by the floods. They dropped essential supplies off at the Port Macquarie SDA Church. Members from Port Macquarie SDA Church packaged the supplies. Wauchope SDA Church and local community also contributed supplies, and ADRA contributed additional fresh produce, bread, and tinned goods before delivering the parcels.

“It is a beautiful example of community collaboration, and unity between our churches and our humanitarian support partners,” says Troy Eggleton, volunteer manager for ADRA Wauchope Community Connect Soupervan. “After delivering the parcels enormous appreciation was expressed by the recipients, especially as many of them had run out of food and had no means to get food with bogged cars. It was so very much appreciated.”

UPDATE: 22 May 2025

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia has activated its National Emergency Management Plan to respond to the floods on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.

ADRA is working with neighbourhood centres in Port Macquarie and Wauchope to provide multi-purpose cash assistance to those most affected. ADRA is looking to extend its support by partnering with the neighbourhood centres in Taree and Kempsey to address the widespread need.

“In times of disaster, cash assistance provides instant relief while allowing those affected to buy exactly what they need,” said Eric Leichner, Emergency Management Director for ADRA Australia. “Some families may need access to food, clothing, or other essentials. Cash gives them the flexibility to purchase what they need most.”

Earlier today, ADRA Wauchope Community Connect Soupervan and the Wauchope Seventh-day Adventist Church opened their hall and served soup to the community. The team intends to offer a lunch time soup service until the flooding recedes.

“There were 100 people from the community in our church today to connect with,” said Helen Eggleton, volunteer at ADRA Wauchope Community Connect SouperVan. “We will do this each day until the flooding recedes.”

To support ADRA’s response to the flooding on mid-north coast NSW, donate at adra.org.au/disaster.