On 28 February 2022, the most significant flood in modern Australian history inundated communities of the Northern Rivers of NSW. The disaster resulted in a loss of lives, livestock, homes and livelihoods. In the following days and weeks of the disaster, the mammoth clean-up task began in hot and humid weather. Thousands of homes were left uninhabitable, and entire towns were enveloped in thick dark mud and a heavy gut-wrenching stench. To start with, the task of stripping premises and cleaning streets was met solely by the residents and volunteer mud armies as wearied communities awaited defence employment.

One month later, many flood-affected residents were again evacuated. Another severe weather event hit the Northern Rivers resulting in putrid flood waters inundating their homes and destroying their businesses for the second time in weeks, traumatising many people and leaving many on a relentless flood watch.