Young Fitzroy Crossing resident Obby Bedford has been working with other volunteers every day to keep food packages moving to those most in need in the flood-ravaged Fitzroy Valley.
Ms Bedford and others set up an HQ in closed local café, Jalagurru Mayi, to store food and other supplies from air drops and the local IGA, which was hard hit by flooding.
"It was my grandmother Patsy Bedford who was organising all of us to do the work. She is an Elder, she burnt herself out working, now she has COVID and is at home taking care of herself, now we have my two Aunties working out of Jalagurru Mayi," she told National Indigenous Times.
"On Friday our food packs consisted mostly of frozen foods, very little fresh food, no eggs, but we were able to distribute that.
"There was also some confusion, so we have been giving a lot of information out at Jalagurru Mayi.
"We have been having some food drops, a woman from Marra Worra Worra made a food order four days ago and it just got dropped today by helicopter," she said on Monday.
Ms Bedford said early on it was difficult to get fresh food, but the situation was improving.
"We have been having lots of people making packs of essential goods, canned food, toilet paper, rice, powdered milk, tea, coffee," she said.
"Right now, we have more fresh produce than before, though some of the milk spoiled on thew way over because it has been so hot."
Ms Bedford said once flood waters receded volunteers were able to source food from the supermarket and get essential goods flowing.
"They were counting it for us at the IGA at first. I think it has been charged to Marra Worra Worra (the local Indigenous-led resource centre). We had a lot of food packs here at Jalagurru Mayi," she said.
"We have done three or four trips to the IGA getting everything into the cars.
"Some of it was organised by Marra Worra Worra but it was the community who got it done. Kerry Morris at Marra Worra Worra deserves a lot of recognition, she has been doing an amazing job."
The young local said there was still much work to be done.
