Don’t miss your chance to join us and local ABC gardening guru Phil Dudman this Saturday for a hands-on workshop on how to install a no-dig garden from scratch.

The workshop will cover site selection, no-dig garden installation, seasonal planting and advice on maintenance.

This is an excellent introduction on how to start a productive vegetable garden at home from scratch at minimal expense. No experience is necessary to participate and children are very welcome with a supervising adult (but please leave the fur babies at home!). Join us for this special day in the garden where together we will learn how simple it can be to grow delicious, healthy food right in our own backyards.

Book your spot now !

We are grateful of support from the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal to offer this program.

If you are unable to book online, please come and see us at the hub! 

This report, Research, Respond, Recover: A year on from disaster, takes a deep dive into the recovery progress and ongoing disaster impacts within the Northern Rivers not-for-profit and grassroots community sector, following the devastating flooding events of early 2022.

NRCF’s four-year research project helps unpack the issues and conditions impacting community and grassroots recovery from disaster. It builds an evidence-base for support of not-for-profit organisations and increases awareness of the need at local, state and national levels.

This report is a call to action for all levels of government, for our incredible philanthropy community, and to continue the conversation of what disaster recovery looks like for those who are frontline in supporting their communities - the not-for-profit organisations and groups of our regions. We are grateful to the 188 community organisations across our region who shared their insights to help shape this valuable reseach project.

Read the full report: Research, Respond, Recover: A year on from disaster

Reaching Out

Wardell’s Wellbeing Program offers a dedicated space for professional counselling services and qualified mental health supporters for the community and Wardell district.

Our facilities and programs are an essential asset for our community’s recovery and mental health. We are privileged to have the support of supported by Healthy North Coast to be able to provide this safe and welcoming space and offer a range of support with our amazing team of registered counsellors and mental health workers.

We provide a drop-in centre, appointments on demand and referral services available 5 days a week.

We can also offer outcalls and outreach or consultation by phone. Our mental health services are free, discreet and confidential.

You can come and talk to our professional team at any time for help, advice or support or just drop in for a cuppa and a chat.

Drop in at any time phone 0432 563 380 or email wellbeing@wardellcore.community

Open Mic Sunday Session and BBQ

Wardell Core will be holding it's first monthly Open Mic this Sunday, 28th May from 1 to 5pm.

We'll be looking to keep it laid back and structured for everyone to get up and have a turn in a structured open mic format rather than a big open jam.

We'll have the BBQ going with a sausage sizzle ( gold coin donation) with BYO drinks.

A PA, Microphones and a small drum kit will be provided. We're keen for everyone of all ages and styles to get up and show their passion and talent in a laid back friendly environment.

So spread the word, and come on down for some fun and a rich variety of music.

Contact Tony on 0413644522 or Glen 0405218095 for further info

Can you help us warm some hearts this Winter ?

We are once again calling on your support to help community members who will be facing a cold winter in less-than-ideal conditions, with many residents still living in open and cold houses.

With a big shift away from emergency accommodation and highly transient community we know there are heaps of people in our region living it rough.

Please help us share the warmth and this message far and wide.

We will accept direct donations o fused goods with priority items being :

• Quality and clean blankets

• Heaters: we have the facilities to test and tag, but please ensure that all electrical items are in good condition

• Warm jackets of all sizes and styles; men’s, ladies and children’s

• Floor rugs and flood covers make a huge difference in homes with little furnishings

We reserve the right to reject any item that is not in good condition - please save us the trouble of having to throw away items that are not of a quality that you would use yourself.

Post and freight is a huge cost - we suggest if you would like to buy items that instead of sending mail-order items - please make a tax-deductible donation here : https://shoutforgood.com/fundraisers/WardellCORE

Let’s Grow!

Are you interested in learning to grow more food at home for you, your family and to share with the wider community? Help us build local community food resilience, and lets us help you grow nutritious organic food at home.

Wardell CORE is seeking Expressions of Interest from households in the Wardell district who were impacted by the flood and are interested in participating in the pilot Home Grown gardening program.

The program will run for three months and will support households to install or revive a home vegetable garden and grow healthy, delicious produce to eat at home and share with the community.

Participants will receive one on one support at home from experienced gardeners and the Wardell CORE wellbeing team to nurture thriving plants and people. Please complete this form to register your interest.

HAVE you heard about Koori Mail’s deadly new Podcast series?

Next week is National Reconciliation Week - but don’t wait till then to tune into Episode 6 of Custodial Care, Ella yarns with Aunty Jackie Laurie and Wayne King who were integral to the smooth operations at the Koori Mail Flood Hub after the devastating floods in the Northern Rivers region, February 2022.

Here they volunteered day in, day out throughout 2022, unpacking, managing and distributing the thousands of donations that arrived daily.

They helped coordinate the Koori Kitchen that fed thousands of tired and hungry flood victims and volunteers for free.

The Koori Kitchen became a place not just about food but also a safe place for tired, vulnerable people, for elders and for people seeking community and connection.

Jackie is a Bundjalung and Yaegl woman and Wayne is a born and bred Widjabul Wia-bul, Bundjalung man, they are first cousins, and they are very funny together.

In this interview you can hear how their comedic relationship spread joy, humour and energy at the Koori Mail Flood Hub during the very tiring and difficult months of relentless work after the floods of 2022.

Don’t forget you can access FREE recovery support from RSS case management at WardellCORE every week.

Tuesdays 9-12 with Lily from Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre

Fridays 10-3 with Dash from Uniting

Drop in or contact us to make an appointment - RSS case managers can assist you through the complex journey of disaster recovery including ;

• help to develop a recovery plan;

• applying for grants and financial support; - linking with key services,

• suppliers and expert advice;

• housing support/solutions and

• disaster-proofing your life and wellbeing.

They can help you make appropriate community referrals to additional services and assist you to access other social and community resources.

Case managers are available to meet you privately at Wardell CORE in our consultation room and can offer home visits or phone support to help you get back on track.

Some things RSS can assist you with are connecting and referring you too legal aid, free financial counselling, financial grants assistance, disability support, aged care support, free services from health professionals for mental health, domestic violence, alcohol and other drugs, social and family support, housing and temporary housing support, camplify, providing material aid, providing food relief, emergency relief and much more.

Commemorative Flood Recovery Free Art Workshops

As part of the ongoing flood recovery efforts across our region, the Northern Rivers Community Gallery and Ignite Studios are offering a number of amazing creative workshops throughout June.

The workshops are all free for any flood-affected community members to participate. If you or someone you know has been affected by the floods and would benefit from a free art workshop, please pass on the information.

Workshops in Ballina include:
Saturday 3 June - Screen-printing with Jude White
Saturday 10 June - Artist Books with Michelle Walker
Saturday 17 June - Mixed Media with Jenny Schirmer
Head to https://www.nrcgballina.com.au to register as places are limited.

The final workshop in this series is Cyanotype printing with Artist Katie Alleva, Sunday 18 June at Wardell CORE which is now full - however, we are taking numbers on a waiting list and will run a second program if there is enough interest so please put your name down here :

OzHarvest finishing up

The OzHarvest Mini-market will be finishing its amazing service at the end of this month.

Final Market Day next week Wednesday 31st May 11-12pm

We will continue to offer a range of food relief options with ongoing support and partnerships with Food Bank Australia and Fair Share.

We also have a regular supply of local produce available and currently exploring new options to provide ongoing food access and relief.

If you are interested to be involved and support Wardell food relief programs please get in touch.

hello@wardellcore.community

National Volunteer Week

Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering is an important opportunity to recognise the crucial role of volunteers in supporting our Nation. We simply cannot overlook the immense effort and contributions of the formal, informal and spontaneous volunteers who have been so critical to our region's recovery. This year’s central theme was “The Change Makers.” and for anyone who has visited our Wardell Community hub you will have had the pleasure of meeting many of the faces from our community that continue to offer their support as makers of positive change to our region.

We simply cannot thank them all enough - but we were able to offer them these humble certificates and commemorative pins as a symbol of gratitude on behalf of our district.

Did you know:

• across Australia, it is estimated that over 5 million (5.025 million) people volunteered through an organisation or group in 2020. This is almost one quarter (24.8%) of people aged 15 years and over.

• In the 2012-13 National Accounts, volunteering was estimated to have an imputed value of $17.3 billion.

• Volunteering offers a wide range of benefits including;

  • give you a sense of achievement and purpose

  • help you feel part of a community

  • help you feel better about yourself by improving your self-esteem and confidence

  • help you share your talents, learn new skills and create a better work-life balance

  • help combat stress, loneliness, social isolation and depression

  • help you meet new people, which can help you feel more connected and valued

If you would like to be involved then get in touch and join in! - if you are interested in volunteering, have skills, expertise or experience to share - then please contact us hello@wardellcore.community

Pimlico Organic Produce Farm Gate is OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

You can now pop down the road to our very own local Pimlico Organic Produce farm shop to pick up your weekly organic produce! and grab a selection of amazing farm fresh vegetables, salad mix, leafy greens and of course their wildly good gourmet mushrooms.

Meet the team Monday-Friday 12pm - 5pm direct at the farm : 771 Pimlico rd , Pimlico.

The gifts that keep on giving

As a charity, we know how hard it is to get and make money work for the right causes, but it’s been easy to make simple choices to work with other charities and businesses that keep on supporting programs and issues that give back to the community.

Here is a list of some of the profit-for-purpose businesses that we work with for services and resources that have great charity programs that help ours and your money stay future focussed and invest in the issues that are so important to us all.

Goodtel : WardellCORE phone services are with Goodtel a telco built to support the Not For Profit sector that donates 50% of its profits back to charity.

Diamond Energy: ranked highest on the Green Energy guide for NSW, produces more renewable energy than its consumers demand and achieves a beyond carbon neutral footprint

Humanitx: is a booking system that is a registered charity that helps disadvantaged children all over the world get access to education, healthcare and greater opportunity for a fair-go in life.

Cliniko : is our practice management software that gives 2% of subscription revenue to a charity that helped children in Kenya and Nepal, particularly helping trafficked and homeless children.

Connecting Up : our tech support and provider not only offers quality recycled and refurbished hardware they contribute to the improvement of the lives of vulnerable people, driving social inclusion and creating stronger communities by providing access to discounted tech ology