Aboriginal women lead flood recovery

In 2022 the New South Wales town of Lismore experienced the biggest flood in colonial history. The Koori Mail’s Flood Hub, run from the head office of Australia’s oldest Aboriginal-owned and run newspaper, became a safe base for disaster relief. The Hub was set up and led by four Aboriginal women, supported by nearby community volunteers.

Volunteer and descendant of the Bundjalung peoples, Ella Noah Bancroft, writes, “Imagine a world where men in uniform are listening to and respecting the guidance of Indigenous women – it became reality on this day. The Koori Mail Flood Hub’s collective knowledge of Country and community proved invaluable when coordinating rescue and relief efforts with other groups.”

Ella Noah Bancroft “The Story of The Koori Mail Flood Hub” Patagonia 

Image: Amarina Toby, Ella Noah Bancroft, Kirilly Dawn and Naomi Moran outside the Koori Mail, Lismore, 2022. Credit: Charlotte Wighton.