Also as a long-time local, and contrary to the intimation of a letter writer from last week’s Echo (February 12), I can personally vouch for just a small aspect of the excellent work and actions of our Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot and her staff, particularly in the aftermath of the floods of 2022.
I volunteered my services to Justine’s office to assist wherever required, and under their co-ordination and direction, I variously helped transfer ambulant patients from Ballina to the makeshift Ballina Hospital at Holy Family School in Lennox Head, took bedding and manchester to Lake Ainsworth for the Cabbage Tree Island community members, transferred a load of one thousand frozen meals, donated from Sydney, from Lismore to the Murwillumbah Flood Hub, dropped off countless donated items from Bangalow Op Shop to the Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah hubs, and the list went on.
Much of this was with Justine by my side. I certainly learnt from this just how genuine she is, and that you can always count on Justine to be there for you in difficult times.
Justine was also agitating fiercely, and ultimately successfully, to have the immediate cash payments to flood victims, which PM Morrison had given to those only in the National Party-held electorate of Page, extended to those affected in our electorate.
Justine Elliot was instrumental in her behind-the-scenes negotiations with the NSW state government to save Feros Village.
She is also Assistant Minister for Social Services, and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
