A visit to Echuca by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews last week could best be described as discreet, with many from the community unaware that he was even in town.
Mr Andrews, Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes and Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Andrew Crisp visited the Echuca Evacuation Centre, the Echuca CFA brigade and Monkee and Co on Friday, October 28.
The Riverine Herald was restricted from accessing the evacuation centre and told there would be no interviews from the Premier during his visit.
Despite this, The Riv was able to catch Mr Andrews as he was heading towards his vehicle before leaving town.
The premier said he preferred to keep the focus of his visit on speaking to locals and on flood recovery efforts rather than on his appearance.
“It’s not about keeping it quiet or doing it loudly or anything like that. We’re not here as a media event, we’re here to talk to people, listen to people and we’ve done this in a number of communities,” Mr Andrews said.
“I’ve been Bendigo, Shepparton, Seymour and indeed, we will be back.”
During his visit, the premier spoke with a number of SES, CFA and ADF members, Campaspe Shire Council staff and Njernda staff.
He also met with owners of local restaurant Monkee and Co, Brett and Anna Thomson, who live on the wrong side of the controversial 3km levee, in Pakenham St.
Mr Andrews said it was important to come and speak to the locals on the ground, emergency services personnel and those who have been displaced.
“It’s so impressive to see our emergency services from right across the state, whether volunteer or career, coming here to try and support people that are doing it very tough,” he said.
“It was important to come and say thank you to them and to ask that question — ‘have you got everything you need?’
“There is a big job of repair and re-building here but we’ll stand with this community and with all the flood-affected communities.
“We’ve been in very regular contact with Peter Walsh and other community leaders here, like the council. This is all above politics, it’s about making sure that we support the people who need it the most.”
After visiting Echuca, Mr Andrews said he was on his way to Rochester for the second time this month.