Rescue

Rescue: Stories and portraits of civilian rescuers from the February 2022 flood

An exhibition by Jeanti St Clair and Raimond de Weerdt

with Elise Derwin, Rebecca Ryan, Dannielle Pickford and Sarah Moran

This exhibition includes details about the Northern Rivers floods in 2022. If you feel anxious or are triggered by this, please seek out help through mental health services including Lifeline 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue, Safe Haven Lismore or Headspace.  

Rescue is a collection of the stories and photographic portraits of people involved in the heroic civilian rescue operation during the 2022 Northern Rivers floods.

Individuals took it upon themselves to get into their boats, jet skis, canoes and blow-up boats to rescue residents who were caught out by the floods. 

The intention of the Rescue project is to ensure that the stories and names of these civilian rescuers will not be forgotten as their vital role prevented death and injury. There is much we can learn from their stories. 

Raimond de Weerdt is a photographer who has been working with communities for the last 20 years as part of Facing Australia.

Jeanti St Clair is a storycatcher, a journalist, a documentary and audio walk producer, and media academic. She is the creator of Lismore Flood Stories.

Photographic portraits by Raimond de Weerdt. Stories caught and crafted by Jeanti St Clair.

Acknowledgement:  

Rescue is supported and funded by the NSW Government through Create NSW, and by Arts Northern Rivers, Resilient Lismore and the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal.