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ELISE DERWIN PHOTOGRAPHER
Elise Derwin lives on Bundjalung Country, in Lismore and has worked as a press photographer for nearly 10 years. In her time working covering difficult and heartbreaking events around, she has never been more affected than covering her hometown during the worst flood on record to sweep through her beloved town in Northern NSW.
Through the documentation of the catastrophic March 2022 flood event, Elise hopes to create a visual record that captures and humanises the devastation, destruction and heartache.
Moving forward, it is hoped that the community of Lismore can use these images as a visceral mechanism to lobby both government and support agencies who are often missing and slow in their response. These images will be an everlasting testament to the resilience, spirit and power of the Lismore community.
RESCUES
A dog is lifted from a small dinghy after it was rescued during the Lismore Flood on 28 February 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
A woman waits on Ballina Rd for her relative to be rescued from their home as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
A child in her pyjamas is carried after being rescued from her Lismore home as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Lismore resident Sophie Adams helps rescue her neighbours from their homes as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Lismore residents rescued from their homes as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Lismore residents rescued from their homes as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
A Lismore woman after she was rescued from her home as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
A couple kayak in flood waters on Molesworth St in Lismore CBD after flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
A man is carried from a rescue boat to dry ground as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Recovery of musical instruments after severe flooding hit the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
A Lismore resident is supported after he was rescued as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Two elderly women from Lismore are carried from a rescue boat after their homes were flooded in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Noel Leon with his 3 month old baby that were rescued from the flooding hotel he was stying in with his family as severe flooding hit the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Local abattoir workers from Fiji help Lismore residents as they are rescued from their homes as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Adrian Van Wilsem Vos finds an exhausted cow on Fawcett Bridge over the Wilson River after severe flooding hits Lismore in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Adrian Van Wilsem Vos and Paul Howard rescue a dog from flood waters on Ballina Rd in Lismore as severe flooding hits the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
A hotel guest watches from their balcony as severe flooding impacts the Bounty Hotel on Keen St in the Lismore CBD in northern NSW during the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
A car submerged under water on Ballina Rd after severe flooding in Lismore in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Water levels drop as a kayaker paddles near Trinity High School after severe flooding hits Lismore in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Businesses on Keen Street in Lismore CBD are destroyed by floodwaters after they reached the top floor of the buildings after severe flooding hit the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Flock on Woodlark St in Lismore CBD is destroyed by floodwaters after they reached the second storey after severe flooding hit the town in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Owner of Flock Espresso and Eats Sarah Jones inspects the damage at the back of their business Flock which was devastated in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Water levels drop and clean up begins after severe flooding hits Lismore in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
RECOVERY
Bonnie Aungle outside her home she shares with her partner in Lismore, the house which was built in the 1800s shifted sideways in the flood. They were priced out of the nearby town Mullumbimby and didn’t want to live in a flood zone but it was all they could afford, along with many other residents in Lismore. Hundreds of homes have been condemned in the flood affected town of Lismore leaving thousands of residents displaced and without a home on March 8 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
Tim Moores and Lucy Wise lost everything in the home they own in North Lismore after the worst flood on record hit the northern rivers town, despite significantly raising their home after the flood in 2017. The couple are not sure what the future holds however the only choice now is to rebuild. Picture: Elise Derwin
Tim Moores and Lucy Wise pictured in the kitchen that has been gutted since the flood. The water mark on the wall shows where the water reached during the flood. Picture: Elise Derwin
Lucy Wise of North Lismore house in her kitchen that has been gutted since the flood. The mark on the wall behind her shows to where the water levels reached. Picture: Elise Derwin
Binnie O'Dwyer owns a house that wasn’t supposed to flood. After the recent flood that swept through Lismore she like thousands of others are dealing with an uninsured home and the task ahead of rebuilding. Many like Binnie don’t have the option to move on so instead are working out ways to rebuild with materials that will deal with flooding and also considering specific built mezzanines levels and escape holes in the roof. It is an uncertain time as many did not expect the flood levels to reach over 14m and wonder how high will flood levels reach in the next natural disaster to hit the town. Photo: Elise Derwin
A car lost to flood waters in Lismore after the February 28 2022 flood. Photo: Elise Derwin
Nick Lake owner of the Hotel Metropole on Keen Street in Lismore CBD, devastated by the damage caused by the worst flood on record but determined to rebuild. He opened the top level of his hotel so the community had a place they could drink at the end of their day. Photo: Elise Derwin
Mud drenched crockery and cutlery on a windowsill at the Hotel Metropole on Keen Street. Photo: Elise Derwin
South Lismore residents Adam and Naomi McGowen lost everything in their home from the flood and are determined to rebuild. Photo: Elise Derwin
South Lismore resident Adam McGowen lost everything in his home that he shares with his partner Naomi McGowen from the flood yet are determined to rebuild. Photo: Elise Derwin
The owner of PJ Fruit and Vegs in Lismore Central Shopping Centre in the CBD had their business destroyed by the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Taylor and Sarah O’Moore-McClelland lost everything in their home in Lismore in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Craftsman Geoff Hannah in what remains of his showroom in Lismore after the floodwaters receded. Photo: Elise Derwin
Lismore Flood: Jon Paterson owner of The New Camera House on Keen Street Lismore inspects camera gear damaged by the flood. Photo: Elise Derwin
Kymee Strow along with her partner Sarah Jones lost their business in Lismore CBD and their home on Dawson St in Girards Hill in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Water levels drop and clean up has begins on Dawson Street after severe flooding hits Lismore in northern NSW in the worst flood on record. Photo: Elise Derwin
Vintage collector Simon Robinson lost hundreds of collectibles from his home and business both located in Lismore. Hundreds of homes have been condemned in the flood affected town of Lismore leaving thousands of residents displaced and without a home on March 8 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
Vintage collector Simon Robinson lost hundreds of collectibles from his home and business both located in Lismore. Hundreds of homes have been condemned in the flood affected town of Lismore leaving thousands of residents displaced and without a home on March 8 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
Vintage collector Simon Robinson, who lost hundreds of collectibles from his home and business both located in Lismore, rescues some of his photographs. Hundreds of homes have been condemned in the flood affected town of Lismore leaving thousands of residents displaced and without a home on March 8 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
Alyse, Doug and Brax (2.5) Richardson of Lismore are not sure if the house will be condemned and are still waiting for an assessment while they live in Ballina. Hundreds of homes have been condemned in the flood affected town of Lismore leaving thousands of residents displaced and without a home on March 8 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
Local artist Antoinette O’Brien in her studio and home in South Lismore that has now become condemned. Hundreds of homes have been condemned in the flood affected town of Lismore leaving thousands of residents displaced and without a home on March 7 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
Local artist Antoinette O’Brien in her studio and home in South Lismore that has now become condemned. Hundreds of homes have been condemned in the flood affected town of Lismore leaving thousands of residents displaced and without a home on March 7 2022. Photo: Elise Derwin
Donna Swan and her family rent their home on Ballina Road, East Lismore. They lost all belongings and cars in the flood. They worked day and night for nearly two weeks to get the house clear and clean, on the day they were due to move back in the owner told them they wouldn’t be able to move back in due to insurance and the walls were needing to be knocked out due to mould. They worked tirelessly to get their home back in a state to move into and are now homeless. Photo: Elise Derwin
Donna Swan and her family rent their home on Ballina Road, East Lismore. They lost all belongings and cars in the flood. They worked day and night for nearly two weeks to get the house clear and clean, on the day they were due to move back in the owner told them they wouldn’t be able to move back in due to insurance and the walls were needing to be knocked out due to mould. They worked tirelessly to get their home back in a state to move into and are now homeless. Photo: Elise Derwin
NORPA Artistic Director and CEO, Julian Louis during the clean up of NORPA’s home in the Lismore City Hall. Photo: Elise Derwin
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