Assistant Principal and teacher at Lidcombe Public in the late 1990s to the early 2000s, Jenni Smedley had moved back to Lismore to look after her ageing mum and became principal of a small school in Lismore East called Albert Park Public School.
The community was very lucky that their school sits on a hill and wasn’t badly affected by the floods but it was totally cut off from the community and only reopened a couple of weeks ago once power was restored.
Sadly the community of 62 families weren’t nearly as lucky with 47 families losing everything.
However staff at the school have been supplying uniforms, food and water to these families, washing and cooking meals for them.
P&C member Bill Soliola said they were all keen to help when they heard of the tragedy and the P&C set about purchasing sausages and bread to set up the fundraiser.
“I knew Jenni as a teacher here and others here have kept in contact with her over the years,” he said.
“We were very happy that we raised $4,150 through the sausage sizzle, though we wish it was more, and hope it will do some good in the small Albert Park community.”