The view from long bridge looking towards the railway

The road to Walka Waterworks in Oakhampton

Hunter River rising

MAITLAND FLOOD CRISIS

Hunter river Sunday morning

Friday the 8th of June we were bucketed with rain. It leaked in near the back door and we had to rush to the rescue of the stock in that area and mop up.

The back yard was awash with water that was not able to drain into the overloaded storm water system.
We remembered that Elle had all her artwork on display in the bakery and rushed out to ensure there were no leaks in the bakery. There was a puddle on the carpet I had just had steam cleaned, and a bit of a leak in the bedroom corner. The worst of it was over the door into the big room , which I know is because of the holes in the box gutter between the two buildings.

We rescued Elle's artwork anyway just in case. I'd had a terrible trip up from Sydney earlier in the day in torrential rain and high winds. I had no idea the Hunter region was taking such a battering.

Saturday there was talk about the river rising and the flood waters that were expected to come from Singleton.

We kept watching the river at the end of our street and in the evening, the SES had started to door knock the houses in our area .They handed us an information sheet which said that it was unlikely the river would flood, but that we should be prepared to evacuate.

Saturday evening we started to get concerned about the possibility that we might be inundated so we started to lift things off the ground. Our neighbour raised our anxiety a bit as well, and where we had just lifted items to table height, we took all the pictures off the walls, removed all the cane, linen,silk flowers and small furniture to upstairs. The couches we piled on top of tables. Everything was stacked as high as possible and we hung the chairs from the ladder.

It took four or five hours. We were so tired we didn't even look in the shed. The girls had been great and ran up and down the stairs with loads of stuff. We found ducky's portable cage just in case.
We had some dinner and hit the sack.

Nothing happened.

Sunday, the prediction of the peak was moved back and after a coffee we walked down to the river to see where it was up to. Everything seemed pretty normal out and about.

The river was certainly higher up the banks. We walked down to the Belmore bridge end of the
river and checked out the flood markers. It was at 9.2 metres at that stage, the whole of Maitland seemed to be walking the levee banks watching the rising water level.

We stopped for a coffee at Lavenders, then headed home. Dan rang and said he had heard on the news about the flood crisis, and asked us if we'd like him to give us a hand.
We said we would love that as we were both really tired and sore. Appley was watching news on the net closely on the SES site and others. Appley and I watched the 1955 flood video I had bought some years ago in her room in the morning.
Rod and I jumped back into bed for a bit more sleep until Dan arrived.

We had a barbeque brunch on the verandah after Dan arrived, and Appley wanted me to drive around to look at the flooding. In the end we all went, and we drove down Old High St, back up the highway to Rutherford then down past the hospital and Long bridge. We noticed the police were stopping cars on the round about and speaking to the drivers.

We parked in the car park near the river and walked to the Belmore Bridge to check to water level again.
It had risen to 10 metres and the cycleway sign was submerged. Dan wanted me to take his photo at the river, but I had forgotten my camera.
I took a couple of shots with my phone.
The police came down and told us we shouldn't be in that area. It was around 4 o'clock.
We went home to start moving things in the shed. We had the radio on in the bakery listening for updates. The girls were starting to get anxious. The warnings were getting stronger. We had heard that people had been evacuated from Elgin St. Rod, Dan and I went into overdrive getting things up off the floor in the bakery.
We have so much stored, and everywhere I looked there were things that needed to be lifted.
Dan stood at the top of the ladder, Rod in the middle, and we started to pass things up to the next floor. Elle and Appley ran loads of stuff up the stairs, including their bikes. Dan was worried about the Motorbikes and he and Rod managed to lift them into the trailer.

The news reports were now saying that the water was expected to trickle over the levee banks
around 9pm and Appley downloaded a request for us to evacuate along with South Maitland and Lorn. We were supposed to have evacuated by eight and it was now seven. The phone had been running hot all day from concerned friends and family.
I was finished in the shed so I bolted upstairs for a shower. Rod dealt with the bikes then shut down the shed and turned off the power and water.

I quickly showered and dressed, then packed my bag. I checked with Rod and I got his clothes ready too. The girls were starting to get really agitated. Appley was worried the road would be cut and we would be trapped. They both had their bags packed and in the car and were complaining that it was stupid to leave it to the last minute. Appley tried to get her boyfriend Sebastion to come and get her, but the police wouldn't let him come in. I didn't want to leave yet, as the main road to his place was cut, and we would have to go through Green Hills to get there. Also, if I left I wouldn't get back in.

Rod came up and showered dressed and packed and I cleaned all the fridges out into eskies.
Rod brought the three cars to the front of the shop and we packed our bags, food, and ducky with her cage and food into the Van.

It was just on eight when we loaded up the Van. Rod, Dan and I wanted one last look at the river. There were police cars and SES and fire engines patroling everywhere. luckily no one challenged us. We met our neighbour and walked down to the river with torches.
It had risen to 10.5 since we had last been there and the water was the highest we had seen it.
It looked to be about 6ft off the top of the levee bank and it was moving quickly.

A couple of our neighbours told us they were staying and we would have liked too as well, but the girls really wanted to get out.
I had bought lamp oil and batteries and we had filled two big tubs of fresh water plus all the bottles we could find.
Dan was annoyed that we were leaving as he had only just driven up. He said he thought he would be there to help clean up if the river topped the bank. Lots of tensions in the two camps.
In the end we were all packed so we left.

We dropped Appley off at Green Hills, where Sebastion and his mum were waiting. Seb's mum offered to take Rod's car back with them as their place was high and dry. That was good, only the van and Dan's car to worry about.
Elle went with Dan and stayed with Grandma. Rod and I took the van and we went to the flat in Sydney.

Sunday morning I was awake at six. I was anxious to hear the news. Dan ended up staying at the flat too, so we put the TV on to here the news.
We had been lucky, the expected top of 11.4 had not been reached. The river peaked at 10.7
so not much higher than we had last seen it.
It was certainly the closest call we have had since we moved here eighteen years ago.

Dan at the river on Sunday at 4pm just before we were asked to leave