Mayor's Column: Sunshine, community and connections!
Published on 11 June 2025
Who knows what the weather will be doing when you’re reading this – but the glorious sunshine around the June long weekend is worth remembering. It not only helped dry out sodden paddocks and sports fields but also lifted the mood around the shire.
It was fantastic to be out with locals and visitors over the long weekend, enjoying events like the South West Rocks Running Festival and Riverside Markets. Grassroots community activities like these support small business and help build important social connections.
We proved during the May flood that our community comes together well in times of crisis. So many were incredibly generous with their time and resources, helping neighbours, friends and strangers. That sense of place and willingness to support each other is made possible by the foundations we build through everyday activities.
Sports events, markets and school concerts offer a chance to meet new neighbours, discover local businesses or make a friend you can call when there’s a tree down. In our busy lives – especially in winter – it’s hard to make time to get involved. But a flood reminds us how vital community connection is.
For some, the hard clean-up after the flood may be behind them. But for many, no amount of sunshine just yet is going to make the recovery simple. For famers trying to make loan payments and feed stock or businesses struggling to afford to restock, the flood recovery is still long and stressful.
I continue to advocate for Kempsey, sharing our stories and showing the lasting impact of disaster long after the news stories have stopped. I’ve doorknocked at NSW Parliament, meeting Ministers and staff to pitch for support. Straight after the King’s Birthday weekend, it was fitting to host Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales, on a tour of the shire.
I urge everyone affected to visit the Recovery Centre at the Kempsey Showground – report the damage, access support and help us continue to calculate the real cost of this disaster.