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 “horror 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 community rallied to help the residents of Port Macquarie’s North Shore and has recounted for News Of The Area how he was involved 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.
“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 happy to be there to support them through their journey, which will still take a matter of weeks, if not months.”
By Sue STEPHENSON