Sky News Australia has today announced popular regional series Paul Murray Live Our Town will head to flood ravaged Lismore this Thursday March 24 for a special live show at 8pm AEDT.
Following weeks of intense rainfall and subsequent flooding, the Our Town Lismore special will share stories of heroism and loss from local business and residents with a sharp focus on the recovery effort that lies ahead.
Sky News anchor Paul Murray said:
“’Floods, they have stages. There’s the panic of the first few days, then there’s the hard slog of the recovery and the re-build. That process goes on for a long time. That’s why we decided to come back to Lismore. To come back, after all the initial media chaos had receded. Because we can’t forget Lismore – and the mammoth recovery mountain they now have to climb. That’s what this show is all about. Telling their stories and keeping them front of mind.”
The Our Town special will also feature many of the local flood heroes including; Lieutenant Ben Fischer who was involved in numerous life-saving rescues, Nick Rose a SES Water Flood Rescue Operator, local business owner Troy Matthews who not only rescued his neighbour from a burning house but is now tirelessly rebuilding his aluminium and glass business so that Lismore can rebuild its shop fronts.
Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg and local Federal member Kevin Hogan also weigh in and share how they will lead their community through adversity.
On the program, Paul will chat with Sir Peter Cosgrove, former Governor General and now Chair of BizRebuild. Developed by the Business Council of Australia, BizRebuild is a business-led initiative working to provide practical on the ground assistance to small and local businesses that have been left devasted by bushfires and floods.
Gold Coast Titans CEO Steve Mitchell also joins the Our Town program along with football great Mal Meninga.
Good360 Founder and Managing Director Alison Covington will also speak to Paul about their national program which connects brand-new goods donated by businesses to communities such as Lismore who need them the most.
The program will also revisit some of those people affected elsewhere in New South Wales and in Queensland, to show the challenges faced right across the flood affected areas.
Now in its fourth year, Paul Murray Live Our Town has visited more than 24 regional towns across the country most recently in Caloundra, QLD but reaching as far and wide as Batemans Bay, Darwin, Albury, Launceston, Mudgee, Tamworth, Goulburn, Wagga Wagga, Cairns, Murray Bridge, Gladstone and many more.
