Floodwaters can’t wash away Echuca-Moama’s community spirit

For Catherine Rymer and Ashton Langdon, they wanted to help and say thank you to the residents, volunteers and emergency crews that have all worked tirelessly to help protect homes from the torrent of floodwater.

On Sunday evening they walked along Campaspe Esplanade which borders the Campaspe River.

With floodwaters pushing up against the sandbag wall running down the middle of the road, they handed out cupcakes and quiches they had made themselves at home to those along the wall.

The treats, which were intentionally decorated with sparkles and glitter to try and make them as festive and upbeat as possible, brought smiles to the faces of CFA volunteers as they tucked into the baked goodies.

The ladies baked more than 90 quiches and eight-dozen cupcakes, and Catherine said doing so was a way she could help out.

“We can’t work at the moment, so we thought we would cook and feed people,” Catherine said.

“We can’t actually do a lot of physical stuff, but we can do this. The sandbaggers out here were starving, so we thought ‘come on, let’s do it’.

“We live just nearby and who knows, we may need somebody to help at some point. I get really anxious and this is a way I can turn it into something positive.”

Ashton said it was special to bring a little bit of happiness to those who had worked so hard.

“It is nice to see people’s faces and cheer people up a little bit,” Ashton said.

“You see so many people and they are all contributing and all helping, and this is one way we can help.

“It is nice to interact with people during this time as well because a lot of people are anxious, and a lot of people are stressed.

“There is only so much you can do. It is a waiting game and trying to do the best you can with the time.”

Across the river in Moama, Narelle Currey always knew she was going to do whatever she could to help out.

On Monday she arrived at the sandbagging station at Jack Eddy Oval in Moama. There were hundreds of people filling and loading sandbags, but there wasn’t food or water there for the workers.

Narelle swung into action.

She helped organise everything she could, and soon there was an incredible stock of supplies at the sandbag station.

Local business donated wraps, sandwiches and focaccias. Water, soft drinks and icy poles were brought in, as well as a cool room to store them in. Other sweet treats like cupcakes and lollies were there as well.

Later in the day, the Moama RSL stopped by to deliver curries with rice to hand out to those at the station.

The supplies weren’t just for those filling sandbags. Volunteers took food and drink to those waiting in the huge line to pick up sandbags too.

Narelle was one of the people who helped organise the army of infrastructure, and she said she had no hesitation in helping out.

“I went to the evacuation centre [at Echuca South] to start off, and they were alright there,” Narelle said.

“I came over here to Moama and said all I can do is offer food and drink, and I’ve been here doing that.

“I dropped off some instant cake mixes to a friend and said ‘bake me some cupcakes’.

“I’m just doing what I can. I am a former SES member and I am a scout leader now, and this is how I can help my community. I am going to be safe in my area, but I want to chip in and help everyone else out.”

But helping organise food, drink and supplies isn’t all Narelle has been doing.

She has people who have evacuated because of the floods staying at her house, with extra animals there too.

Narelle also helped organise for two elderly people stranded in town get back home to Geelong. A friend drove the pair, in Narelle’s car, to Bendigo, where they got on a train back to Geelong.

Narelle said it was fantastic to see everyone from the community coming together to help.

“It is absolutely amazing,” she said.

“Earlier in the day I predicted there were 200 people helping make sandbags. This is what we do. It is the country.”