The Reece Foundation, through its connection to the Reece network, have partnered with Resilient Lismore to bring the trade skills they need to restore essential plumbing services to as many residents as possible in Lismore, NSW, and surrounding townships.

In early 2022, the Wilsons River reached 14.4 metres in Lismore, surpassing all other floods on record by more than 2 metres. Homes, businesses, and Main Street were all underwater and thousands of people were displaced.

Almost a year has passed since the record flooding event, but an overwhelming number of residents are still unable to move back into their homes or access essential plumbing due to the lack of trade support or personal hardship.

In November, the Reece Foundation brought five volunteer tradies to Lismore and the Northern Rivers region to scope the works required to restore bathrooms, kitchens, and laundries to some of the most vulnerable households in the community.

To restore the essential plumbing services, these tradies volunteered their skills and time to visit the houses of impacted community members to evaluate the damage inside, map out the allied trade needs (i.e. tilers, waterproofers, carpenters, electricians, and builders), and the plumbing needs (i.e. hot water, toilets, tiles, bath, disability rails, sinks, septic).

For more information on the Reece Foundation and its works in flood-stricken Lismore, see the article in the upcoming Autumn 2023 issue of Plumbing Connection.

GET INVOLVED

The Reece Foundation (with founding partner Reece Group) is an independent charity that works with volunteer trades and project partners to fund and initiate projects that provide clean water and sanitation to communities at home and abroad. Clean water & sanitation has a positive ripple effect – children can go to school with access to toilets and women are empowered to access an education.

There are five main ways for tradies to get involved:

• Volunteer – The tradie community can sign up to use their skills to provide access to water to communities in need. Local organisations can also submit project ideas that require trade skills to the Foundation website.
• Buy merchandise – Anyone can purchase Reece Foundation merchandise either at their local Reece branch or online, with all proceeds used to fund future projects.
• Reece Foundation Grants – Tradies or an organisation can apply for a Reece Foundation Grant to support local, smaller scale WASH projects.
• Donate – People and organisations can donate directly to the Foundation which will then be used to fund future projects.
• Partner – Organisations keen on working on a community project together to provide clean water and sanitation, can partner with the Reece Foundation to create and measure outcomes.