Resident of flood-stricken town wins stunning $1.4 million prize home
A resident of a town which was devastated by floods last week has been given a second chance after winning a $1.4 million prize home and $40,000 in gold bullion in a lottery.
Surf Life Saving Lotteries (SLSL) announced the winner is from Mullumbimby Creek, a NSW town near Byron Bay, and located some 50km north of Lismore, which has been without power, fuel and running water due to the recent flooding.
The lucky winner wasn't aware of the life-changing win right away as SLSL were unable to get ahold of them after three days of no telecommunications in the area.
But SLSL has since revealed they've "successfully made contact with our winner and given them the good news", though they wish to remain anonymous.
The incredible prize home is located in Bribie Island, between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane and has four bedrooms and a sprawling outdoor area, as well as an interior and electrical appliance package worth $159,700.
'People are trapped and missing', Mullumbimby locals say
The horrific floods devastated cities and towns across the east coast of Australia with Lismore and Ballina among the worst hit in NSW last week.
Landslides also followed in Mullumbimby Creek – trees and mud covered roads in and out of town, trapping residents and stopping help from getting in.
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The town is now desperate for help from emergency services, with many pleading their case on social media.
"To the Government Services: We need you to rescue people still trapped and missing... houses in landslides, roads turned into rivers, people trapped in mountain areas with no power, food, or capacity to escape," a woman from Mullumbimby wrote on social media on Saturday.
"We need you to pass uncrossable roads, to rescue people, then start the road clean up and longer term recovery. The locals are alone doing it themselves.
"Some of my friends in the mountains are running out of clean water and have no food. Power generators provide an hour of time to access [the] internet and communicate."
Others revealed people are "trying to scale cliffs to rescue pregnant people, babies and families," putting themselves in danger.
"We hope this win provides some much-needed support to our NSW supporter," the SLSL said in a statement.
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