Brigadoon Holiday Park resident Margaret Patrick says her rebuilt home after the floods is like the Taj Mahal for her.
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Mrs Patrick moved back into her cabin at the North Haven holiday park on Wednesday [July 28] after living in emergency accommodation since the March floods.
The 82-year-old managed to save paperwork, medication and a few items in high cupboards but the flood claimed all her other possessions.
She recalls having water up to her armpits inside the cabin and the floodwater was even higher outside.
"It frightened the daylights out of me," Mrs Patrick said.
The park was hit hard during the floods with most occupants evacuated. Many of them were left with nothing.
The floodwater severely damaged Mrs Patrick's cabin.
A Resilience NSW grant went towards the rebuild and St Agnes' Parish Recovery Support Service acted as the project manager.
Mrs Patrick thanked her family and everyone who helped with the recovery effort.
St Agnes' Parish recovery support worker Nette McCoubrie provided support at every turn.
Samaritan's Purse stripped out and sanitised the cabin.
Handyman Aidan Stephens from Mid North Coast Projects repaired the cabin, Make a Difference donated a fridge, stove and bedding, locals gave Bunnings vouchers, Andy Kalkman painted the internal walls as a volunteer, Trina Dee supplied the curtains and Aussie Battlers donated a vacuum cleaner.
Laurieton Vintage Motor Club will help Mrs Patrick source a new car after floodwater destroyed her vehicle.
Mrs Patrick visited regularly to see the cabin rebuild take shape.
"Every day she gets here, her face lights up," Mr Stephens said in the lead-up to move in day.
The home was uninhabitable before the work, he said, and now it was probably one of the nicest caravans at Brigadoon Holiday Park.
Mrs McCoubrie described the moment the flood-affected residents returned to their rebuilt homes as "amazing".
"It's the first time you get tears of joy from them," she said.
"This is the bit where they get to see they have a home again, and they are back around their friends, which is really important."
The parish's flood recovery support service, funded by Resilience NSW and the federal government, is providing a bespoke client-centric service to high-need flood-impacted residents.
The service's individualised support helps clients and families get back on their feet.
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