21 March 2025
It's the community spirit and the ‘help a mate’ attitude of Lismore that makes Sergeant Paul Dennis proud to call the resilient town home.
Serving his 23rd year in the Army Reserve within 41st Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment (41 RNSWR), Sergeant Dennis said the strength of spirit the town displayed during the 2022 floods was on show again as it prepared to face Topical Cyclone Alfred.
“Seeing how the community jumped up and helped assist in the 2022 floods was incredible,” Sergeant Dennis said.
“People were driving around in tinnies [boats] helping out their neighbours, helping us out with aged-care evacuation. Lismore is very much community minded, you always see people helping each other.”
He was part of the contingent based in Lismore when the 2022 floods struck, and he said the experience this time around couldn’t have been more different.
“In 2022 there were just nine of us from 41 RNSWR that were in Lismore when those floods occurred,” he said.
“From Friday to Sunday until the reinforcements could get through, it was just us on the ground trying to help and evacuate people in trouble.
“The community has been awestruck with the amount of support we’ve been given this time. The community has felt a lot safer knowing they had a lot more support here. Everyone has been very receptive to the ADF being here.”
When not assisting with natural disasters, Sergeant Dennis said the work-life balance was what he enjoyed at the unit.
“I’m currently doing five days a week with 41 RNSWR and the unit is really supportive in allowing me to spend more time with my kids,” he said.
“It’s really invaluable. I’ve not had the chance to do that before. I go to the school and help out, I go on excursions and use some of my Army training to help show them navigation and watercraft.”
Sergeant Dennis said 41 RNSWR was always keen to welcome new members.
“Just ask the question, walk through the gate and come talk to one of us,” Sergeant Dennis said.
“If someone wants to join us we can help give their support back to the community.”
