Loyal volunteers on hand when Parkes Electorate needs them most
11-January-2010
Throughout the electorate over Christmas and well into the New Year, a large and loyal band of volunteers from groups such as the State Emergency Services and Volunteer Rescue Association have been on hand to protect a number of our towns from the threat of flooding. While the recent rainfall was very much welcome after nearly a decade of drought, for many property owners in western NSW and for the residents of towns such as Walgett, Wee Waa, Coonamble, Gilgandra and Mendooran it posed a serious threat as the Castlereagh, Namoi, Talbragar and Barwon rivers swelled to levels not seen for many, many years. As soon as the danger presented itself scores of volunteer workers converged on Dubbo, ready to be deployed as needed. The on-going assistance provided by these volunteers has been incredible and their efforts are no doubt appreciated by every person within the Parkes electorate. Recognition must also go to the residents of these communities who pitched in round the clock to help the SES, VRA and other groups protect their towns from the rising floodwaters.
Making a big difference also are the 15 helicopters and their pilots that have been used to assist with the rescuing of stock and in dropping off of food supplies. For the nearly 300 properties in western NSW that were cut off by floodwaters these emergency aircraft have been vital in providing on-going food delivery and medical support.
There has been significant damage to many of these communities and the surrounding infrastructure and reports of stock losses continue to rise. I welcome the commitment the NSW Government has given to ensuring that financial assistance will provided in the areas declared a natural disaster zone and it is encouraging to see that in some areas recovery efforts are already well underway.
It is a harsh reality of life in the Australian bush that we are as vulnerable to drought as we are to flooding rains. However, when these natural disasters occur we are very blessed to have so many volunteers willing to step up and help us overcome them.