Visiting St Joseph’s School in Eugowra last Friday was a very special experience. When I arrived, I noticed that there were several boxes in the makeshift office. I was informed that these were new donations delivered just before I arrived, and that this is a regular and appreciated occurrence.

The purpose of my visit was to present the school with the money that we, as a school community, had raised to aid in helping the school recover from the devastating flood that the town of Eugowra experienced in 2022. The school captains were delighted to accept our donation and they had many ideas for ways to spend the money. The school sends out a big thank-you to the St Joseph’s Grenfell school community for our generosity.

I was then shown around the school grounds and heard about what has been occurring since the flood. The school now consists of the hall, which is currently being used as the office, the staffroom, the hall and the church, the classrooms, which are demountables and the toilets which are also demountables. As you can see from the photos, it is likely that the demountables are there to stay for quite some time, as the original school building is only in the very early stages of being rebuilt.

I noticed the huge number of caravans in front yards as I drove through town. Some of these are now being replaced by ‘pods’, which are temporary homes on stilts, for the homeowners who have chosen to rebuild.

Despite all of this, and the fact that four staff members and seven of the school’s families had significant damage to their homes, the staff and students are moving on in a positive and resilient way. I admire their strength and positivity, and I invite you to continue to include them, and all of the citizens of Eugowra, in your thoughts and prayers, as they face the long road to recovery.

Mrs Leslie King