ROB Dwyer is no stranger to the devastating impact of floods and the importance of rallying around those who have lost everything.
He managed the evacuation centre at the Laurieton United Services Club (LUSC) during the Camden Haven’s record-breaking flood of 2021, and was later recognised with a NSW Government Community Service Award.
This time around his efforts are as the Member for Port Macquarie, which comes with the added responsibility of securing the timely delivery of state government support for all flood-impacted communities.
Amid the distressing stories and pleas for urgent help he has seen and heard across the electorate, are the instances of volunteers and emergency services personnel going above and beyond to help others.
He is particularly proud of how members of the Camden Haven community rallied to help the residents of Port Macquarie’s North Shore and has recounted for News Of The Area how they responded in the direct aftermath of the Hastings River flooding.
“We had over 200 houses that were inundated with water and the mud and everything else that goes with that.
“Knowing what the community went through in 2021, I reached out to Rural Fire Service Captain Kingsley Searle on Thursday evening and asked ‘is there anything we could possibly do for you due to your isolation’ as the two ferries servicing the North Shore in Port Macquarie were both out of action.
“One was washed up onto the banks of the river and the other was caught up in a tremendous amount of debris.
“Marker buoys and also, unfortunately, a Marine Rescue boat, was caught up on that as well.
“Kingsley said, ‘Rob, I would love some labour to help out the people here who are isolated, to help them clear out all of their furniture and belongings that need to go out on the street and clear up all the mud and debris that’s been left behind’.
“I reached out to a number of people in the Camden Haven who were caught up in [the floods of] 2021, and I went to the presidents of the Redbacks Soccer Club for men’s and women’s, the Camden Haven Hockey Club and the Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club.
“I received a great response that evening and early into the next day, and had around 20 people organised to go from the Marine Rescue base in Port Macquarie over to the North Shore to assist.
“We did it in two runs – from 8am in the morning to lunchtime, and then lunchtime into the evening.
“Some people did both.
“And these people all brought their own rakes, brooms, gurneys… and set off on a fairly lengthy day’s journey of clearing mud and debris.
“The people on the North Shore were so appreciative.
“We’d walk in pairs to each house, knocking on the door asking if they needed assistance.
“It would take us two or three hours to knock over one house and then we’d move on to the next one and by the time we finished we absolutely… had mud everywhere.
“You can imagine what it’s like having a gurney inside someone’s lower floor bathroom area trying to clear it out.
“The stuff just goes everywhere.
“But I was so proud of the team.
“As soon as I called up a few of them, including Simon Hancox from PRD Realty in Laurieton (who’s also a past president of the Redbacks Soccer Club), his comment was ‘Rob, it happened to us in 2021. Whatever I can do to assist people that assisted me back in those days, I’m more than happy to volunteer and help’.
“Kingsley Searle came back just saying how grateful the community was for our support.
“Fortunately, on the Monday, they allowed people from the broader community, and the SES, to get through.
“We wouldn’t have got over there without Kingsley Searle organising boats through Marine Rescue to safely get us over there.
“For the community over there to go through what they went through… is devastating.
“They went through the night without power and it was quite scary… particularly for those who hadn’t experienced that before.
“To wake up the next day [to the] shock of seeing their outdoor furniture, their barbecues, the downstairs linen, beds, and so on, either washed up against a fence or strewn throughout the building underneath, was horrific.
“We’re certainly happy to be there to support them through that journey.
“That journey will still take a matter of weeks, if not months.”
‘Absolute horror stories’
Mr Dwyer also assisted in Coopernook, where the Department of Communities and Justice faced challenges in setting up an evacuation centre.
“I received phone calls throughout the day on the Thursday… that we couldn’t get the DOCJ in as they were required to come from the Manning area, and that was obviously blocked off due to the highway being closed.
“So, I worked with the SES in Port Macquarie to make that happen.
“Fortunately, a lot of people had already organised themselves to go to the community hall… to set that up as an emergency evacuation centre without the assistance of government.
“By the time I got there, I had some kids activities from the local Vinnies and food for the children, particularly youth, knowing that the DOCJ was on their way.
“When I arrived, I just heard the absolute horror stories of how people had to be rescued by Stone’s Oyster Farmers of Harrington and farmer Ian Crisp.
“They went out all day, while their businesses were being inundated with flooding, to assist others.
“They picked up from Croki and from around Moto, Coopernook and Harrington.
“They picked people up off the balconies of their homes on their farms while massive bales of hay just floated past.
“They had to go along with their vessel, lift up the back of the motor to get across fence lines, going across the highways, going across main roads in their boats, to rescue people.
“At one time they had 19 people and nine dogs in the boat at the same time, bringing them back to the evacuation centre.
“The community was very proud of them and very proud of their resilience and strength in getting together to solve their problems.”
By Sue STEPHENSON
