Maggi Barnard

ALL EYES TO THE SKY… With all the helicopter activity in the area, Pilot Michael Findlater gave us an insight into how he is assisting with the ongoing emergency in the region.

It is hard not to notice all the activity in the skies since the devastating floods hit our region. There have been up to 14 helicopters based at Parkes Airport to help with the biggest emergency operation ever in NSW. 

Michael Findlater, a helicopter pilot for Orange Helicopters, is one of the pilots engaged by the SES to support the relief operations. 

Michael said that his role was predominantly moving SES personnel and also doing reconnaissance. “Some aircraft are doing the heavy lifting, for example lifting cages full of livestock. I am doing reconnaissance, which involves mapping, crew movements, dropping much needed supplies and generally anything that is needed.”

Michael has been in Parkes for 10 days and will stay at least another week until the next crew changeover. Sadly, he predicts he will be back in the area as the water is not going away, it’s just moving west.

Originally from Dunedin in New Zealand, Michael has flown in six different countries over the last 20 years including Australia, Fiji, Czech Republic, Sage Islands, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

“Every mission is different in nature and scale. I did the Black Saturday fires in Victoria, flying an MS helicopter into Marysville. The town was flattened by fire, 90 people died and the survivors were all huddled together at the local football oval with their families and pets waiting to be rescued. It was a horrendous event, but all you can do is try to help.”

By Roxane Manley

AN ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS… The ADF and loads more volunteers helped out at Forbes Public School on Tuesday, while the students have been accommodated at Forbes High School. Right: Principal Meg Staples had a huge task managing the clean-up.

As the flood water started receding this week Forbes started the mammoth task of cleaning up for the second time in two weeks.

A horror picture of the devastation and destruction were unfolding with everything covered in mud and debris, but fortunately the pure determination and grit of the community did not wash away.

“It is all a bit overwhelming,” said Forbes Public School principal Meg Staples on Tuesday still managing a smile as she managed over 100 volunteers, including parents, teachers, ADF, RFS and Forbes Shire Council volunteers.

“We prepared really well,” she said, after the school was inundated only 11 days earlier, but it was still a huge task to get about 17 rooms, including the front office, kindergarten classroom, toilets and library, cleared and deep cleaned. Carpets and nails had to be removed, floors, walls and halls washed and everything sorted.

“All the support has been absolutely fantastic,” said Meg looking at the beehive of activity to get the school ready for the kids to return as soon as possible.

The same intensity of activity was seen all over town at businesses, sport clubs and private homes. “We did not lose anything really valuable, but there is so much cleaning to be done,” said Rex Barton at the Forbes Historical Museum. He was very grateful for the help they had received from the ADF and RFS on Monday.

“The old pieces of furniture have done really well, but we have some display cabinets damaged as the water came up to about half a metre right through the museum and higher in the back rooms.” 

The plan is to only reopen next year to give the volunteers enough time to get it all back to normal. 

Ken South was helping at the Forbes Vet Clinic where his wife Sue Brown works. The clinic had moved to temporary accommodation to continue its work. “There’s been some losses, but not as much as some other businesses,” said Ken. “Everyone has been so terrific in coming to help, including the ADF and RFS.” 

Forbes resident Peter Walsh also had some assistance from the RFS on Tuesday to wash all the mud from his partner’s house in Renfree Street. “This flood just beat us. For pensioners the loss is just devastating.” 

Peter said although they had prepared really well, things like the kitchen and bathroom cupboards would still need to be replaced. “There is a lot of assistance offered to farmers and businesses, but I’m not sure what is on offer to us.” 

Despite all the mud and damage, Peter was happy to see the return of frogs in the garden. “We’ve not had them for years, and we found some crayfish in the house!”