Clarence Valley
The Clarence Valley is located in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales - a breathtakingly beautiful wilderness area located between Byron Bay and Coffs Harbour.
Eight wild waterways flow through the Clarence Valley, comprising Australia’s largest east-coast river system, which cuts through World-Heritage-listed rainforest and emerges into the South Pacific.
The region includes the towns of Grafton, Yamba, Maclean, Ulmarra, Iluka and Wooli, and is home to a diverse and rich history and culture. Clarence Valley was one of the hardest hit by the 2019/20 bushfires, which were the worst on record in NSW. Nearly 60 per cent of the Clarence Valley region was burnt by catastrophic fires: 168 homes were lost, with Nymboida being the most impacted town, with 90 homes destroyed.
Just as this community was getting back on its feet, the 2022 floods hit. Some towns were cut off for more than five days, with no access to food and essentials. Recovery efforts are ongoing throughout the Clarence Valley.
Meet the Clarence Valley Fire to Flourish Team
The Clarence Valley team commenced their journey with Fire to Flourish in September 2022. The team has been focused on co-designing and granting, while gaining a deeper understanding of specific community needs.
Making their way through Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Yaegl country the team have shared, listened, laughed and learned as they collected stories of strength from the communities, stories of hope and ideas for the future.
What’s Happening in Clarence Valley?
410 Gone
Clarence Valley Indigenous artwork
Frances Belle Parker is a proud Yaegl woman, painter, drawer, printmaker and installation artist from Maclean. An accomplished artist, Frances completed a BFA through UNSW, and a BVA (Honours) and Masters of Indigenous Studies (Wellbeing) both through Southern Cross University. Frances is deeply inspired by her Mother’s land (Yaegl land) and the island in the Clarence River that her Mother grew up on, Ulgundahi Island.
“I have chosen a gum leaf shape, however when upright it can also represent a flame. Inside the leaf is an aerial mapping of the Clarence River; the river is one that connects all people of the Clarence Valley. The dots represent people and the stripes represent the resilience embedded into us as people. The yellow dashes represent the bushfires which have caused havoc in the region, the green represents the replenishing and the new growth of nature.”