Resilience is an understatement for an indigenous newspaper overcoming all odds to remain in operation 30 years on.

Koori Mail is one of the few newspapers that provide a voice and recognition for the Aboriginal community in Australia.

Established in 1991, the fortnightly newspaper has produced 802 editions so far.

But, it wasn’t easy getting to where it is now.

The vision of management and the Koori Mail staff team effort kept the newsroom running.

Located in the flood prone area of the Lismore basin in New South Wales, Koori Mail is not spared from the surrounding Leycester Creek and Wilsons River during a heavy downpour.

In the historic 14.4 metre flood that hit Lismore in February last year, the office was one of the businesses that was heavily hit.

The newspaper’s chief executive officer, Naomi Moran, said they had never expected floodwaters to enter their office.

The business lost all archived newspapers, furniture, printers, and missed three newspaper editions.

Recovery…Fijians who helped in cleaning the Koori Mail office.

Through her husband, Edward Ragamate, who rounded up Fijian men working in Lismore’s meat industry, the business managed to salvage computers.

Mr Ragamate hails from Tunuloa, Cakaudrove Province in Vanua Levu. He and the 45 Fijians were instrumental in the recovery phase of Lismore.

“Since we relocated here, we have experienced four floods, but the water has always got to the top steps,” longest serving staff member, Stuart Corlett, said.

“We didn’t expect the water to reach the ceiling of our first floor. The Fijian men came to our rescue about 11:45am that Sunday and moved our computers to the second floor.”

Despite being hit hard, the newspaper company was turned into a flood hub for residents of Lismore.

It became a recovery centre for 10 months, providing for all those affected. Mr Corlett, 72, is adamant the newspaper has a bright future.

It’s over a year since the flood, there are businesses still rebuilding, some unsure whether it will ever reopen, and homes left abandoned.

Lismore has been hit by a cluster of floods over the years, but the resilience of the community of about 30,000 people is a force to reckon with.

Feedback: ivamere.nataro@fijisun.com.fj