Think back to the 60 Minutes program about the Lismore catastrophic flood. That 30 minutes showed Australia exactly what we had gone through and all the raw emotion that went with it.

Chris Waring from Bolt Barn on Union Street, South Lismore was featured in the story and at the time the story was recorded Chris said he was done, he had had enough after 14 years.

Now the raw emotion has settled somewhat, although the anxiety of hearing rain remains, Chris and his wife Linda are staying, Bolt Barn is continuing.

Like many businesses, Chris and Linda are putting their existing business under the microscope and looking at different ways it can operate. After all, like the big picture, doing the same thing, in the same way, leads to the same result and that is what Chris and Linda cannot repeat. However, in the immediate term, it is sort of, business as usual.

"At the moment, we're just concentrating on servicing our customers or anyone that's trying to get something going whether it be a machine or their property or whatever we've had so many of those people in. A lot of people have lost their tools and they need tools to work so we've been able to sort of supply a fair bit of that sort of stuff. Especially when they're getting their vouchers, their $2,000 vouchers or whatever help from the government they're getting," Chris said.

(Linda and Chris Waring inside their Bolt Barn business on Union Street, South Lismore)

"Moving forward, we're feeling a bit trapped that we can't really go forward and can't go back. We don't want to leave all the people in Lismore for dead. We have good long term staff here too that we're going to look after so we're just tossing around ideas of how we do the business maybe a little bit different without leaving Lismore."

"Whether we warehouse somewhere else, have a smaller operation here, something that we can pick up and go if we get a bit of warning, perhaps. Maybe we can find a nice block of land somewhere and build a facility somewhere that's still advantageous to our business. Not way out in the hills somewhere where no one will come and see us you know. I just think it's just takes a really good measured decision later on. I just don't have that answer now.

You can help Chris and Linda get back on their feet by supporting a sale they will have in Casino next week.

"Yeah, we're having a sale next Friday in Casino with my brother. He's got an irrigation business, Lanson Trading (77 North Street, Casino). So we're going to have a combined sale out there because I've got a bit of stock over there at the moment. And then later on in June, we're going to do another sale, an end of financial year sale and maybe people can buy some rusty stuff if they want (laughs) or some new stuff if they want. Whatever they want. They can buy. We'll try and claw a bit of finance back."

Chris and Linda have been given a lot of support since the 60 Minutes story. After watching it, one lady sent an email from Victorian saying she had been through the Albury flood 11 years ago. She lost her house, her relationship as her life fell apart and she could relate and connect to what the Lismore community is going through.

"All of a sudden she could feel that she wasn't alone anymore, because she felt like that, too. She couldn't sleep and she still has stress about it and stuff like that," Chris said.

"I kept saying, it's not just all about me (The 60 Minutes story), it's about all these people. You know, some of the people have much, much worse stories than mine."

"It was about a lot of the people on this side of town (South Lismore) because generally it's not reported and I'm not being critical but this is the way it is. And so, I felt for all the business people on this side, I feel for everyone in the area, but then I felt like at least someone had a voice."

It is good to use our voice to share that Bolt Barn will be staying as part of our community. Pop in and see them at 183 Union Street, South Lismore or call (02) 6621 9090.