Good day. I sincerely hope it is a good day for all of you; that the sun is shining and the water retreating.
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It is Saturday evening as I begin. My three sons ‘converged’ this morning (just as the rivers were predicted to do). They had predictions and modelling, for the street and each individual house. We are one block from the Broken, whereas their homes are north of the city with the modelling showing no risk — so, inevitably, a plan had to be made for us. We just said ‘yes’ to everything because who knows anything. This could be worse than anything we’ve had in the past — or not. I prefer not.
I’ve been walking through the house looking for the irreplaceable things. There’s not that many — the photo albums are all on a high shelf; the other pics are either on the walls or in a plastic box on a shelf. The newer pics are on the boys’ computers. Most of the rest is just ‘stuff’; some of it I love, most certainly, but it is still stuff that money will buy.
My rocking chair is old; I have re-upholstered it three times, with every change of colour or theme. I could do with a new one — except my 25-year-old grand-daughter says it is a part of her earliest memory. I was giving her a baby bottle, rocking in the chair and singing This old man came rolling home. She is adamant about the detail; crystal clear. And she’s probably right. I gave many bottles, and sang many songs (not very well) to seven grandchildren. Saturday was called ‘Marnie’s day’, which meant that any parents in need of a break would drop their children off; sometimes there’d be one or two, sometimes there’d be five or six.
So, the rocking chair is ‘just stuff’ – except it isn’t.
Our flooded history
I’ve been looking at our city’s flood records, and quote from the Greater Shepparton website:
‘The Goulburn River has a long history of flooding, with major floods occurring in 1916, 1917, 1939, 1956, 1958, 1974, 1993 and 2010/11/12.’
Obviously, some of these floods were worse than others; so, I’ve selected the years where quite a few of us were impacted.
1870
We don’t know much about the flood event in 1870. ‘Shepparton MacGuire’s Punt’ consisted of Welsford and Wyndham streets plus Vaughan, High and Fryers running north to south. The punt had been in existence for almost 20 years; the Shepparton Hotel had been established in 1860, in Welsford St. There were no newspapers in Shepparton itself; the Riverine Herald in Echuca was publishing, as were the Waranga Chronicle and Goulburn Advertiser — both published in Rushworth. The first issue of this newspaper was just seven years away. The settlers had come to town and the squatters had gradually lost their control. Welsford St, where there were a couple of buildings, was certainly affected. We don’t seem to know much more.
1916
Large volumes of water made their way down both the Broken and Goulburn rivers. Welsford St, where quite a few businesses were now established, was considerably impacted. As a result, the Shepparton Hotel was relocated to the corner of Wyndham and High — where we all remember it. However, Wyndham St was also inundated. I remember Mr John Avram telling me about marks on the Post Office indicating the height of the water. He was told about them as a child, and remembers going across the street to check them out. Shepparton was growing. The population (including Mooroopna) was around 6500. However, this flood came bang in the middle of World War I, and many of the younger men had enlisted; to the people of our town it was a major event.
1974
This is a year many of us remember. It was a major event.
We were living in Mooroopna at this time — and I had a business in Shepp’s CBD. I remember standing on our front verandah, at home, watching the water rise — very quickly. I wasn’t concerned about the house; I just ‘knew’ the water wouldn’t get inside. My husband, completely unconvinced by my ‘knowledge’, had the carpets taken up. An Army ‘Duck’ came along the street, advising us to evacuate. When the water covered the verandah, we moved across the street to my uncle’s home (it had three steps up to the house) and stayed there that night. The next day, I was desperate to get to the shop, and my man called ‘a mate with a truck’ who took me, and the children, across the causeway. The shop, and its stock, was fine — in fact, stores in the CBD were trading. We stayed that night with a friend in north Shepparton and I opened the shop the next day.
My husband called to say that the house was dry, we had escaped a mess by a centimetre. The water retreated quickly. The boys and I went home and life returned to normal.
The estimated cost of that flood, in Shepp/Mooroopna, was $23 million. I have just been reading that should a flood of the equivalent of 1974 happen today, it would affect 4000 homes and businesses.
1993
We were living in south Shepparton by this time. The Broken River was spreading far and wide. It was across our street. My youngest son arrived home from uni, to ensure we were okay. Once again, I was sure the house would be okay — but my concern, this time, was my company car. The one I’d had for a couple of years had been handed on, and mine was two days old. The boys said the land rose slightly from the front gate to the house, figured out the gradient or whatever and suggested I move the car to just outside the lounge room windows. The water was over the nature strip and they put a stick in the ground, with markings on it. If the water reached the red line on the stick, we would evacuate; until then, the house was safe and so was the car. I remember our next-door neighbour asking what we were doing, and I said ‘That’s how far the water can come up’. She looked at me with a blank face and said ‘Oh! That will help!’. I don’t think she quite got it!
Then, glad to see the youngest home, we had a family party. The next day, there was some water in the front garden — but the red line was never reached and, once again, we had a narrow escape.
What are your memories? I’d love to hear them.
2022
It is now Sunday evening. We evacuated from our home in the early hours of the morning. Everything seemed weird and different. Our eldest son has, at his insistence, remained at the house. We spent most of the day with Third Son and have now returned to Second Son (where there are spare beds). The northern part of the city appears to be totally normal — not even puddles. However, I haven’t been in the direction of The Boulevard; having no desire to be a flood ‘tourist’.
The fellas went back to the house this morning, to sandbag. Their modelling indicated that the house was ‘almost in the clear’ and they figured the sandbags could make the difference. So, all that could be done, is done. And I’m not particularly concerned. Once again, it feels okay to me. I have been told to check the river graphs, if I need to. The house will be okay between the 12-metre mark and 12.2m; at 12.3m, the sandbags will be in play and it could be dicey. It is currently around midnight and the graph is showing 12m. Bedtime.
Monday morning. My deadline is approaching but it appears we have avoided a wet house. The last photo from home looks exactly the same as last night’s. The water hasn’t gone up for at least 13 hours. Now, I know this may not be the end of it. There is water to be released from Eildon, some time soon. We don’t know how much — or when.
For now — at least — we breathe a sigh of relief.
Thank you to those who contacted me; I appreciate your concern. I hope you are all dry and safe — and, may it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text on 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back, if you wish)
Town Talk