Tatura Area Community Bulletin

Harston Cwa Special Presentation

Tatura Evacuation Centre

Mrs.

St John Ambulance

A total of 90 St John Ambulance Victoria volunteers have just completed a mammoth three-and-a-half-week deployment of 24/7 flood relief across Victoria.

Between 15th October and 9th November, volunteers gave up 3,948 hours in a total of 332 shifts at Echuca, Shepparton, Tatura, Rochester, and Bendigo, as well as the Emergency Command Centre.

For each shift, two volunteer members were stationed to provide patient care for 12 hours at a time. Altogether, 57 volunteers served across the state at relief centres, while 33 members were deployed to our

Emergency Command Centre to facilitate communications, logistics and planning.

Across the centres, St John Ambulance volunteers treated 647 patients for a range of clinical and non-clinical needs – from attending to first aid incidents, including two cardiac-related issues, to providing psychological support.

Excerpt From Press Release 14 November 2022

On October 16th, 2022, the Tatura Football Netball Club was advised the Ballantyne Centre was to be taken over as an Emergency Response Centre during the significant rainfall and flooding event which was occurring in Shepparton and Mooroopna. Many families and individuals from Mooroopna were displaced when floodwaters began entering their homes or access became unsafe due to rising floodwaters. The Ballantyne Centre, Wilson Hall, the main oval, and Victory Hall all became a home away from home to many people over the next fortnight. Bedding was set up in all these facilities which reached a peak of approximately 300 people in the early stages. Animals were also abundant where the ground floor change rooms became a menagerie for many well-loved pets. Members of the TFNC took over the kitchen during the first week and catered for lunches and dinners for up to 300 people during the first week of the emergency. Many local volunteers assisted or put their names forward to assist if required. Volunteers were involved in catering, tent setup, assistance to people with medical issues, cleaning of facilities, offloading food supplies from helicopters, etc. COGS staff were highly appreciative of all these people and constantly expressed that they would not have been able to cope without the fantastic volunteers from Tatura. The second week saw the arrival of extra staff from COGS and the Salvation Army who began coordinating meals. As the number of people requiring assistance began to drop significantly, the local volunteers were no longer required.

Several of those who were forced to evacuate their homes and come to Tatura said they were overwhelmed by the generosity of the locals. The Tatura Lions Club provided breakfast several mornings, locals loaned tents, crates for pets and still others offered to do washing. It is fantastic to know that when people are in need of help, the community of Tatura and surrounding areas can be counted on.

Toolamba Metal Works

Toolamba Metal Works at 2 15 Toolamba Rushworth Rd Toolamba is owned & operated by Toby McGurgan & Sharon Law and offers the following services.

General Welding & Repairs.

Trailer & Aluminium Boat Repairs

CNC Plasma Cutting.

Metal Signs Made To Order

Metal Garden Art Works.

Lathe & Turning Works.

Milling & Machining of Parts

Pump Shed Manifolds.

No Job Too Small with quality old fashioned service & advice.

We have a range of Metal Garden Art Works available for sale & specialise in Metal Signs

Custom Made To Order.

As we are not always working on site we suggest you give a call on 0427 717 377 or 0418 862 422 before making the trip to Toolamba.

Gmw Flood Recovery Support

Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) is extending payment deadlines and prioritising customer credit refunds to customers impacted by the floods.

“We understand the impacts that recent floods can have on our customers’ properties and businesses, and we would like to reassure them that support is available as part of our flood recovery program,” Flood Incident and Recovery General Manager Daniel Irwin said. For flood-affected customers who pay their fixed charges accounts in full, GMW has extended the payment due date by two months to February 16, 2023.

“We are also replacing any water entitlement records and statements free of charge, and can send to an alternative address if required,” Mr Irwin said. “Our hardship and flexible payment options continue to be in place, and we are prioritising customer credit refunds.”

To further help customers in their flood recovery, GMW has also developed a dedicated flood recovery webpage at www.gmwater. com.au/flood-recovery which provides a range of up-to-date information including support options.

“This page also includes quick links and details to other useful resources including the Agriculture Victoria website and the Victorian Flood Recovery Hotline which contain information on clean-up, financial and mental health support available,” Mr Irwin said. Customers who have been impacted by the floods are encouraged to call GMW on 1800 013 357 if they need to discuss their individual needs.

If customers have further questions about GMW’s flood recovery process and/or support available, they can also email GMWfloodrecovery@gmwater.com.au.

- Ivy Jensen