To mark the one-year anniversary of the 28 February natural disaster, Lismore City Council is holding a series of events to allow our community to reflect on the catastrophic flood followed by a number of significant events in March as we start to rebuild our City.

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said REFLECT, REBUILD Lismore will give residents the opportunity to once again come together to reflect on the past 12 months, reconnect, heal and hopefully enjoy some entertainment to mark the city’s new beginning as we rebuild.

“While the morning of 28 February dramatically changed our city, it also revealed the best of our nature with strangers coming to the aid of strangers, neighbour helping neighbour and our whole community standing as one,” he said.

“There is no doubt that this has been the toughest year for many of us, which is why on the first anniversary of 28 February it is important to come together as a community and reflect on what happened on that horrible morning and also on how far we have all come since.

"There's a number of really significant activities planned over the three weeks from the 28th of February through to mid-March."

Importantly to the people of Lismore and the Northern Rivers, all events are FREE.

"Probably the most significant for me would be the ceremony to acknowledge the boat rescuers, that is a private ceremony," Mayor Krieg added, "I'm putting the call out today for anyone that was involved or knows of people that were involved in those rescues. We've got a comprehensive list of about 230 names I know that I've missed some. So, anyone that knows of any of those heroes on that 28th of February if they could get on the Visit Lismore website and just fill out a short registration so that we can contact them and invite them personally."

"We'd like to invite every boat hero personally to come to a private barbecue just to recognize the efforts from that day. The Governor General is going to be in attendance as well for that private ceremony."

"We've also got to combined church services ceremony for the public on the 28th of February down at Mortimer Oval. It's not a religious ceremony. It will be spiritual because it's a very significant event but it is certainly nondenominational and open to everyone. We'll invite everyone to come along bring your picnic blankets and come down to Mortimer Oval bringing your picnic chairs and just remember what happened on that very significant day in Lismore's history."

A Wellbeing Hub will be operating in the Lismore Quad (Magellan Street, Lismore CBD) from February 28 to Sunday, March 5 for those that wish to talk, reflect and heal during what will be a traumatic time for many 12 months on from the worst natural disaster in terms of cost in Australia's history and the fourth worst in the world in 2022.

"People who are still suffering from some level of trauma can actually go and talk to trained counsellors or they can just sit and talk and reflect on what's happened," Mayor Krieg said.

The list of events that follow the commemorative services are listed below;

Thursday, March 2

Bowilzilla Skate Events welcome party at Nimbin with the time and venue to be confirmed.

Friday, March 3

Flea Circus Kids - Skate Event: session at GSAC between 3pm and 7pm.

Saturday, March 4

CBD Gathering: including all CBD businesses, food vendors, local artists, roving entertainers and four community stages with local and well-known performers from 2pm to 8pm

Nimbin Gnarwall Skate Event: For all ages and an after party to be held in Nimbin

Sunday, March 5

Community Concert: with local and 2 well-recognised entertainers to be held at the Lismore Turf Club from 1pm to 6pm. This is for Lismore LGA residents only.

Saturday, 11 March

Community Cricket 20/20 event: led by local former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, ex-Australian cricketers playing with local cricketers and local juniors involved in pre-game entertainment. Mayor Krieg said the names will hopefully be announced this Friday.

Sunday, 19 March

Opera in the Gardens: International performers will create a magical trip through the musical world at the Lismore Turf Club (Woodlawn Road, Lismore). Times to be advised.

A free bus shuttle service will be available for some events. Those who need transport to other events can contact Hart Services service on 1300 874 278 which is kindly providing a free pick-up.

“It is also a time to look to our future and our City’s future as we rebuild together," Mayor Steve Krieg said, "“REFLECT, REBUILD Lismore is for our community with all events free.”

REFLECT, REBUILD Lismore is funded by the NSW Government to the tune of $400,000 with Lismore City Council putting up $100,000 in kind.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said these anniversary events are recognition of what happened, what we lost including lives, and also an opportunity to recognise the way we rallied, responded and looked after each other.

“Despite everything I see an optimism in our community, and now is the time to get stuck into reimagining Lismore,” she said.

"I really want to say big thank you to Lismore City Council for putting all of this together. The money is always welcome, that was the easier bit, but it was how to design it, how to organize it and just get that right balance of reflection commemoration but rebuild, reimagine in going forward.

Full details can be found on Council’s Visit Lismore website at www.visitlismore.com.au and on Council’s Facebook page.