When Susie Russell set up the Trees Not Bombs Community Recovery Café after the February flood, she knew it wouldn’t be there forever.

This Thursday (June 29) will be the cafe’s final day of operation and a special open mic event will take place at 2pm to celebrate the hard work of volunteers and all the free food and drinks made for the people of Lismore.

On Friday, volunteers will take down the cafe’s signature circus marquee from the Quad car park, pack it up and sent it home with Susie to Elands.

The iconic tent was so popular, it even made an appearance as a lantern in the Lismore Lantern parade last weekend.

Capacity

Susie said after four months of operation, the cafe was closing because the volunteer crew didn’t have the capacity to keep it going.

“The cafe was an emergency response to the community needs after the flood and the absence of services,” Susie said.

No support

“It was a massive effort to keep it going and we’ve had no institutional support.

“The mayor hasn’t even come down to say thanks for feeding our town.

“Council told the security people inside the enclosure not to get involved with us, and there are a lot of who are frustrated who are hanging out there.

“Now, the government needs to pick up the people who have fallen through the cracks in the system and provide for them."

Susie said about 100 volunteers kept the place running but now a small crew will try to set up a place somewhere and provide breakfast for those who need it.

Forests

The cafe began life as a tent used by the North East Forest Alliance in raising awareness about forest logging.

Now, these activists are turning their focus back to the forests.

“For some of us, it was a forest connection that brought us here – now as logging reopens, we are focussing on our primary purpose, rather than feeding people who need a soup kitchen," Susie said.

What’s next for free food in Lismore?

Susie said as well as a small Trees Not Bombs crew hoping to serve free breakfast in a new location, the Koori Kitchen on Molesworth Street will be offering free lunch six days a week.

The Winsome Hotel and Soup Kitchen is also set to reopen in the middle of August.

Five Loaves reopens

Five Loaves coordinator John Tozeland said the free food distribution of Five Loaves will recommence in Lismore on July 18 - at the Harold Fredrick’s carpark from 6-7pm (at the back of the Quad). Before the flood, the operation took place next to the Transit Centre.

When the February flood happened, John said Five Loaves was the first relief hub that gave out food from the Seventh Day Adventist church.

“Then Koori Mail and Trees Not Bombs started,” he said.

“I remember the first pumpkin n coconut coriander soup I made that we served the boaties who were helping in flood rescues.

“I was cooking at Trees Not Bombs after the flood until four weeks ago and at the Hearts kitchen behind Koori Mail.

“Five loaves played a significant part in food recovery. We have been delivering supplies to the kitchens throughout.

Big Finale Melting Pot Open Mic gig at Trees Not Bombs

This Thursday from 2pm, you can join in the celebrations in the Quad rear carpark at the Trees Not Bombs cafe last day.

Called the Big Finale Melting Pot Open Mic, the community is invited to come along and share something literary, culinary, musical or embodied with those gathered.

Be it a cake to eat some rags to rug, a song to sing, a poem to read, a dance to teach or some marshmallows to toast in the fire.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1061954034432592?ref=newsfeed

Read about the cafe's beginnings: Trees not Bombs tent becomes Lismore's community cafe