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Vol 2 No 3 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022 ISSN 2653-1550
IT’S A BLACKOUT By CHRIS EARL
WILD storms have seen electricity and mobile phone services across the Loddon cut for up to 12 hours. Hardest hit in the last fortnight has been the Serpentine district with residents concerned for elderly relatives and friends. Nigel Sendall said he had been forced to sleep in a caravan where the battery kept his CPAP sleeping machine. running. “We found these constant power outages very disruptive
NIGHTLY STORM HAVOC CUTS POWER, PHONES
and have needed to sleep in our caravan to be able to use our machines via the caravan batteries through our inverter,” he said. “The loss of mobile phone service is very worrisome for the town’s residents.” Dianne Walker, who runs the town’s post office, said her elderly mother had been panicked by the blackouts. “And when the phones go out
STRIKING MOMENT SNAPPED BY KYLIE
too, that puts extra strain on older residents unable to have that re-assuring phone call with family.” Telstra regional general manager Steve Tinker said a portable generator had now been installed to restore phone coverage for the district. “Telecommunication networks need a reliable energy source to operate and power outages in
THE SKIES turned electric at dusk on Australia Day as storms rolled in over the Loddon. Amateur photographer Kylie Addlem noticed beautiful colour in the sky and
NOW SELLING STOCKFEED
the area can cause disruptions,” he said. “The site that services Serpentine also has battery backups that can keep it running in the short term. “Recent severe storms in and around Serpentine knocked out power, which then eventually disrupted our mobile base station. We were able to install a portable generator in a matter of hours to restore coverage to the community.” Dianne said electricity was cut twice last week alone with the Woolshed Road area without power for up to 12 hours.
an unusual cloud formation from the window at her home near Serpentine as almost 100mm was about to be dumped on the district. “I couldn’t be bothered getting my
Tess Alexander told the Loddon Herald she wanted the town’s Telstra tower to be made a priority protection area. “We need contingency plans and perhaps even opening the community centre on 36-degree days with a back-up generator where people could go,” she said. Tess said Powercor had told her storm activity throughout January had blown multiple fuses after lightning strikes on transformers at Prairie, Salisbury West and Eaglehawk, cutting the local supply. Powercor was contacted for comment.
proper camera and trying to figure out the right settings (I’m a complete novice) so just took this photo on my iphone,” Kylie said. “It was a complete fluke of a picture.”