To commemorate the anniversary of the 2022 February 28 natural disaster, we at the Lismore App didn't want to just rehash what happened twelve months ago. The memories and pain for some are still very strong while others want to look forward and not relive that week from hell.

The Lismore App wants to look at the people and companies that really stood up in the community's time of need. Those that not only went above and beyond at the time but continue to help the community as the rebuild takes shape. In essence, the Bloody Legends of Lismore.

Joel Jensen Constructions is a relatively young company, but Joel and his wife Brittany have a community spirit that runs deep.

"The flood, that was pretty hard. We left here at about 11:30 I think it was on the Sunday night. The SES booted us and said you gotta go."

"We had everything probably two meters above one in 100, which we thought we were legends, you know, we thought that we've smashed this, everyone's high fiving. And I hate to say it now, but we sort of made a bit of a comment that if the water gets this we're all buggered and it ended up bloody getting it."

(The JJC crew in the boat during the rescue phase)

"I didn't get over here till probably four days after the flood. I went in the boat for the first two days and I knew it was buggered so there was no rush so we just went helping. I was out in the boat from Monday morning for two days and then we went straight into helping clean for the next two."

"Then I finally got over here and by the time I got here, talk about the family we've created like, you know, my electrician, my plumber, my cabinet maker, my boys they were already here and into it."

"I remember I just walked in and it was pretty ordinary. I walked in, opened the doors and you just look at eight years worth of shit you bloody saved and bought and whatnot was just cooked and gone."

"I remember sort of walking out and just walking around in circles. A couple of boys passed me over a hot beer, it was a flood beer, at about eight o'clock in the morning. They just passed me a beer and they said just go over and sit down for a sec Joely we gotcha. And I remember just thinking that this is all over, we're done."

"I honestly thought I don't have it in me to do to go through all that again because we'd saved up and bought our tools, our timber, our equipment, all our office stuff, our computers, our files, it was all just all gone. And then Britt said to me, she said if you don't do this, what else are you going to do in life that makes you this happy? So that was sort of a tipping point. Britt's always like that, very positive and she will always give me a nudge if I need one, you know in a nice way, but more or less pull your head and let's get it done and get back to it. So we did."

Joel and Britt had some big ideas for Joel Jensen Constructions (JJC). They had just purchased a block of land opposite Lickiss Fabrications to grow the business. The idea was to build an office and be the first in town to build a showroom. Suppliers were on board, council approval came through the day before the flood.

"I remember saying to Britt, bugger that, sell the block and then she said no we won't, we'll be right. Obviously, the money for that has gone now but we're still planning on doing that. It'll probably be a couple of years down the track now but we're still planning on doing that. And part of the reason is about the business community, especially west of the bridge."

"The business community in the south is so strong and good, it's full of so many good people. So, we thought no, we're not going to give up, we're going to show a bit of positivity and that's why we've got straight in and rebuilt this (the South Lismore office on Elliot Road), try to get a bit of good vibe back. We're still going to push forward with that and stay here where we started."

"We've done this from the start, the whole crew is entrenched in the community and everyone loves doing it."

(The JJC crew during the clean-up phase)

"After this flood, I think we went on a rampage for four or maybe even five weeks. We couldn't get materials or gear to work and we're still paying the boys, we wanted to keep paying them. So I said, you know, anyone that wants to let's go make a difference. So, we packed the trucks and the diggers and whatever we had left and we just went cleaning mud, helping do make-saves, whatever, we went all around Lismore, Broadwater, Woodburn, Coraki."

"Then after that, we have been involved in the pod villages, we've been involved in the John's Lyng stuff, been involved in helping people get insurance claims through. We've been trying our best."

"It's been a bit tricky because I don't want to lose what we've worked so hard for in terms of our core side of the business, you know, our new homes, our residential and I've still got people to look after, we still have clients in that side. It's not their fault it flooded. So, we still had jobs booked in and houses half finished. We made sure we got them done as well."

"We ended up creating another team. I was getting a lot of calls from people that lost jobs, you know, whether it be Norco or wherever, they were out of work around town. And I sort of thought how can I help more people? How can I help get things done in town? and also help people that are out of work? And then if I do this, it's gonna keep money in town rather than people floating in because, at that stage, we really needed the money to circulate around in town. So, we're all buying lunch here, we're buying beers here, we're buying fuel here, you know, so we ended up ramping up and I think over that space, we said bugger it, if we're going to do it, we're gonna go for it."

"We ended up putting on another six people, just labour, just gave them a job and they came in bloody useful. Three of them we've still got today, they've stayed on with us, they proved themselves."

"So, we went through helping, cleaning, rebuilding and then now we're going into a new stage which is pretty exciting for us. I feel like not enough is being done. Being on the ground every day and seeing how many people still need help and then you go into these government things and get so frustrated because you know, it's gonna be a long time before they can even just get started. And we're not talking about rebuilding them a flash place, we're just getting them the necessities."

"Like today, I've got the boys going around putting in ply benchtops so that people can come through and fit a kitchen sink in it. So, we're not creating anything glamorous that's gonna win an award but we're making a difference which is just so they can live."

"Ridley Bell actually came and approached me and said, Hey, mate, I'm throwing in money and the Catholic Diocese is throwing in money and we're going to jump in and team up with Resilient Lismore but we need some extra help with the building side. Me and Britt thought, you know, bugger it, let's go make a difference, so we said yep we're in."

"It's been pretty exciting, actually. We've just started a list, a tally so we can see some positive out of it. How many people we're helping, so we can look at it and go, bloody hell, a couple of weeks in and we've helped ten people. By the end of the year, who knows, we might have helped a hundred locals."

"Just by doing something so small, like what we're doing today, the difference it makes on their face you can't buy that, they don't bottle it, it's a really special feeling when you can do something to improve someone's life."

"I think the story is that there are so many locals still helping locals, it's pretty special. Lismore is not a place that people put on their map, you know if they're up from Sydney or Perth or wherever. But it's a destination. I think when you do come here and you meet people that are here, it's somewhere that you always come back to or that some people will never leave, it's a really special place Lismore."

"I want my kids to grow up here and I want everybody else's kids to grow up here, keep the community strong. So, I thought it's all well and good to sit back and say I should be doing this and should be doing that but you know, it's not really fair to sit back and criticise if you're not gonna have a crack yourself."

No one can say that Joel, Brit and the entire JJC crew are not having a crack, not only in business by keeping people employed, circulating the money around town and with one eye on the future but in terms of making fellow residents' lives better one day at a time.

JJC......Bloody Legends.