When Kate Cairnduff opened her Fitness Manouvres studio on Dawson Street, she set it up with a flood plan.

She had no idea that in 2022, she would making a food plan for a town devastated by the worst flood in its recorded history.

Kate said when Lismore MP Janelle Saffin contacted her about starting a Food Bank at her studio, she didn’t hesitate.

“It’s what you do for your fellow humans,” Kate said.

“You need to do something. If I was homeless, I would want someone to help me.”

Food bank is a pantry of donated goods which operates in the charity sector.

After Kate had finished mucking out the flood mud from her studio (which went under in the flood), the trucks full of donated goods started arriving.

Food distribution

While food is not a scarce commodity anymore in Lismore, the CBD still has no supermarkets and no electricity.

Instead, Lismore now has a number of distribution places where free food and essential items can be found.

Kate said that she is scaling the Food Bank down since other distribution centres are carrying the main load of donated deliveries now.

“We were needed in the early few days,” Kate said. “We reached out to people in North and South Lismore who didn’t have phones and may have fallen through the gaps.

“People who knew they were there reached out to them and would take food and animal food packages to them.

“It was such a small gesture for those who had lost everything – they would smile and be so grateful

“Lismore is pretty cool.

Trauma and recovery

“This has been a fearful event and it will not be forgotten. There are so many people in trauma right now.

“The media is reporting that we are in the recovery phase, but once rubbish is gone, it’s part one – we are not there yet.

“There are still a lot of organisations trying to house people and once they have houses and are safe, we can start to get more supplies to them.”

Distress

“The most distressing thing is that I have no income - I have nothing,” she said.

“But I’m better off not thinking about it, so I keep busy and helping people with food is good for all of us.

Frozen

“We all picked up our boots twice now with covid and had to reinvent ourselves.

“I try future proof my finances, but with this flood, I feel life is frozen in time and I don’t feel like I can take action at the moment.

“So, the Food Bank is an action – it’s about stepping forward and reaching out.”

Flood and reopening

Kate said she is keen to open her business again, but needs to wait until the landlord finishes gutting the upstairs flats - which were also destroyed in the flood.

She said once she offloads the rest of the products – including lots of toiletries packs, she hopes her clients will return.

“It’s all about being slow and steady and being kind to myself,” she said.

“It’s one day at a time. Now, I have people helping me and lots of love around.

Recovery

For Kate, despite having a flood plan for her studio, she’s worried about her large pieces of equipment that were left in the studio beginning to rust.

And the inevitable mould that is already growing on the inside walls.

She also hopes that the town will recover and small businesses will be able to get on their feet again.

Don’t compare trauma

Her message to locals, especially those who didn’t lose their homes to the flood is ‘don’t be afraid to reach out for help’.

“I’ve had people compare their trauma and say that they lost their jobs, but still have homes, so don’t want to take any handouts.

“If you feel you need help, reach out and don't feel ashamed.”

Toiletry packs

Kate said she has a few hundred toiletry packs in the Food bank right now, and wants people to come and take them.

“Maybe you know someone you can gift one to – if you want some you can message me at Fitness Manouvres on Facebook”.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/fitnessmanouvers.