Testimonials

The caravan arrived while I was in recovery at hospital, without my presence or approval. Then there was the huge amount of money the caravan owner (from Melbourne, with two other vans being rented under the same program), the driver (at $300 per move), and the percentage for Camplify, who were blanketly unhelpful and pushy, that had me off side. 

Understand, while I appreciate the stable bed, the caravan was anything but homely and comfortable.

I am short (under 5’3”), so many features of the caravan – the highly set microwave I couldn’t reach, the bench seat around the table (the only seating) from which my feet didn’t reach the floor, the bunk beds (unneeded) who’s windows were inaccessible to me, etc, etc – drove me to despair.

While it may suit for a short holiday, a caravan is very cramped for continuing living. There was no space to exercise or stretch, so essential to healing. The utensils, cooking equipment, crockery, etc were all of the cheapest quality – bought specifically for flood recovery, as they were all breakable – not with the mobility of the thing in mind. I had to pack it all for the move to another location six months in.

I have been angry and unhappy with my living conditions, as you can read, from the beginning.

Then I was contacted by my very excited flood recovery advocate, Alison. She informed me that the Ballina Rotary organisation had been in touch offering a few pods to our area as part of their extensive and ongoing recovery efforts.

 I was stunned to silence when she explained your group’s offer of help. To be given (with no six monthly review, difficult discussions of issues, or capital gains) with only generosity and genuine concern, the opportunity to gather my personal belongings, such as they are, and my dignity to have my own space to reside is a response that has renewed my hope in my fellow beings.

I cannot express how wonderful it is to have room to stretch each morning. A ceiling that is far enough from my head that the rain, so triggering, doesn’t feel like it’s inches from me. A table and chair that I can sit at, comfortably, to type this email. The ability to shift my few things to the positions I choose. And where it all isn’t moving a bit – like the landslide shook my home – as the caravan did with every step.

Your deeds, the research of Donella, hard work of Paul, Col and the teams that made the journey to my remote location, to ensure the safe and timely installation of this beautiful space, have been life changing for me. You have ensured that I have a roof over my head until I can navigate the tough road through the bureaucratic maze ahead.

After two years, to have this surety and ability to form a semblance of ‘home’ again…it is hard to tell you how much this means to someone in my position. And again, to be gifted this, after having my finances forensically examined, with doubt and judgement, and living with the constant fears of homelessness – at the age of 60 – has been a huge boost of support, empathy and care that has been much lacking in my post-disaster trauma experience.

Thank you Rotary. Thank you for your considered and understanding assistance to we in need. Thank you for seeking to help, while others seek to gain. Thank you for organising and overseeing these logistical madnesses and design considerations in expectation of our needs.