what a day
So we spent most of the day with the SES ferrying people from Chinderah and Fingal, on the Sth side of the Tweed River, over to Banora Point/Tweed. Set up a BBQ at my sons place which is about 4 houses from the river, SES set up at the rivers edge where the road went underwater and used that as a make shift boat ramp.
So many boats, tinnies and jetskis on the river ferrying people to the SES from as far away as Murwillumbah, about 20ks away.
Just had to be careful of things floating down the river, like logs, 40 foot boats that came loose, cows, hay bails, and the odd house boat.
1 cow, I kid you not, floated down the river to the river mouth (about 8 ks) and out to sea, swam into the beach at DBar, and walked up the beach.
Some boats could not get to people's houses so had to send jetskis into the property which is a bitch when the barbed wire fences, that are under water, get tangled up in their props. So many boats broke down as the mud blocked their water pumps and engines overheated. Jetskies were hitting logs.
One poor old fella had to be dragged out of his house, water was up to his knees and he said he was fine, didn't know he was under water, poor bloke had dimentia and didn't know what was going on or where he was.
Most of the people we fed were volunteers who had been out on the river since morning and had nothing to eat all day, beer was in very short supply.
I rescued a couple of old dears from an SES tinnie and brought them home for a shower and glass of wine and off to the Salvos as they had to book in and register so their family knew where they were. One lady had lost everything and only had a bag with a change of clothes, yet in good spirits.
So many people wanted to help out and provide food and clothes to those who lost everything, the community support was amazing.
Incredible day, hope I never have to do it again.
