|
| |
Great relief
By WO2 Neville Gibbons and Cpl Andrew Hetherington
Edition 1170, July 12, 2007 |
| |
|
 |
|
Supply mission: 4 Bde’s Unimog negotiates a flooded section of Target Creek in North Gippsland
Photos by AC Warren Derwent |
|
| |
 |
| Driver Pte Trish Attrill and RAAF Sgt Matt Hall load emergency supplies |
|
RAGING flood waters, snow, partly washed away roads and boggy ground could not stop a combined relief effort to Gippsland residents by Sale-based 4/19PWLHR and Air Force members.
After heavy rains and rising flood waters in the Wellington Shire, a call went out to 4/19PWLHR’s Sale Depot on June 28 at 5.30pm for a Unimog and personnel to transport stretchers, bedding and food from Heyfield and Sale to Stratford.
Pte Trish Attrill drove the unit’s Unimog with Sgt Dave Ahchow and Pte Rick Paterson during the first of two relief missions in challenging weather conditions.
“We drove out to Heyfield, which was our first stop. One of the bridges there was completely covered and the water was at the height of the truck’s headlights. We couldn’t see the road for water and it was dark,” Pte Attrill said.
“We were the only vehicle allowed through to Heyfield. We then drove on to Stratford and dropped off bedding and food for people at the senior citizens’ centre.”
After being put on standby, Pte Attrill was notified there would be a second trip to assist the people of Licola on June 30. Air Force’s Sgt Matt Hall and Cpl Steve Meyer accompanied her.
“We loaded the truck with 24 full water jerries, eight 44-gallon drums full of diesel fuel, food donated from a local supermarket, a couple of satellite phones and a few newspapers,” she said.
“We drove to Heyfield and met up with a Department of Sustainability and Environment ranger to escort us. We then drove on to Licola for a 75km drive, which on the road we were travelling on took us four hours.”
The water wasn’t so much of an issue; it was the poor condition of the roads on the route.
“They had been washed away in some areas, there had also been a few bridges washed away and it was snowing. It was a challenge to drive a fully laden truck in those conditions,” Pte Attrill said.
“At a couple of crossings we had to get out and have a look to make sure we could get through. There was one that we had to go around the road and a bulldozer pulled us through the paddocks – because of the vehicle’s weight it would have sunk in the mud.
“The experience was an adventure ... It was good to do it and to help the people. There were a couple of times when we thought we wouldn’t make it because of the roads.”
She is in the process of transferring to the ARA to RACT and would like to be posted to the more balmier location of Townsville.
Related Stories
Flood of aid
|
| |
|
