A PAIR of Port Macquarie locals have shared their experience of attempting to get home during last week’s weather event, after visiting family in Narrabri.
Don Delport and Michael Powter take up the story from here.
Our flood experience
We came down Oxley Highway through the “Walcha Road” and missed getting through on the highway at Long Flat by just an hour as the waters rose so quickly with runoff from the catchment.
Donald had a double lung transplant at St Vincent’s Hospital Darlinghurst in 2021 and needs anti-rejection medicine twice daily.
He always travels with a few extra days of tablets, just in case.
But this weather event was like nothing we had ever experienced.
The rain was epic, biblical, with heavy downpours 24/7.
We sheltered in our car outside the Long Flat Travellers Rest hotel, sleeping and sheltering in the car and following news on the radio.
The meds were due to run out today.
Kaylene, manager at Long Flat pub, was a treasure.
All rooms and beds were taken so the first night we spent in the car with access to facilities, but on night two Kaylene had rustled up two warm and comfy beds.
Donald contacted St Vincent’s transplant team who also got on the case with the SES, who were considering a helicopter evacuation or attempting a drone drop.
The weather was foul however, neither ducks nor rotorcraft could fly!
As luck would have it we were at the right place and time when Ray and Dave from Port Macquarie Marine Rescue appeared down the hill where the Hastings River met the Oxley Highway at O’Neill’s Creek.
Again as luck would have it they were making an emergency drop of medicine and food to a local, and had room for us to return with them.
This was a blessing as all Don’s medications ran out that morning.
When we were delivered to Port Macquarie Marine Rescue at Buller Street we were like two drenched strays… and very grateful to be recipients of such wonderful hospitality, kindness, and community spirit.
Rarely do such amazing attributes of this country come together simultaneously as did our rescue by Marine Rescue, an organisation often overlooked for their hard work in all these scenarios of biblical flood, tides or other emergencies.
We cannot thank Marine Rescue, Long Flat hotel and the others stranded there, and all the residents of a tiny but fantastic town.
