Darraweit Guim was hit the hardest as flood waters rushed through the Macedon Ranges last week – nine homes and the local primary school were inundated, and many more properties damaged as levels rose above seven metres.
Darraweit Guim fire brigade captain Mark Spedding said there had been an “extraordinary” amount of rain – 82 millimetres.
He explained the flooding was largely due to the convergence of two creeks in the town and the arrival of water from neighbouring Lancefield.
“For us, it’s a lottery. In 2020 we had more rainfall than we had last week and we didn’t have a serious flood because they didn’t have flooding in Lancefield,” he said.
When it became clear they needed to evacuate, residents made their way to higher ground at the community hall.
Mr Spedding said many houses experienced more than a metre of water inside, and Darraweit Guim Primary School had at least a metre of water in all of its buildings.
Darraweit Primary School principal Carol Booker said the school had been “basically destroyed”.
“We got the warning mid-week that we might have to sandbag … Then on Thursday morning we didn’t get an official warning, but the CFA had told us we needed to sandbag,” Ms Booker said.
“They were already there sandbagging. We’d sandbagged around the low doors and low rooms. We put everything up above, off the bottom shelves and things.”
As the day wore on, the water rose, “above everyone’s expectations”.
“Our administration bluestone building and kitchen were basically filled almost right to the top, almost to the top of the door,” Ms Booker said.
“The fridges were turned upside down and the kitchen bench was on its side.
“It was like a cyclone had gone through.”
Forty-six pupils from the school will continue their learning at Wallan Primary School while the clean up continues.
“We’re hoping that we will be back on site as soon as possible. The quicker the better,” Ms Booker said.
She said schools from surrounding towns and the community had been hugely supportive following news of the devastation.
“Every person that we talk to, even strangers have stopped and said ‘Can we help in any way?’ and it’s just a matter of coordinating it really,” Ms Booker said.
Despite strong community spirit and support, there were also concerns about instances of burglaries at flooded homes in the town.
“There have been occasions of looting,” Mr Spedding said.
“[It happened to] one bloke who was affected by flood. As waters were receding he came back and found someone had stolen his gas cylinders.
“Someone was seen backing into a property and was chased off by CFA members.”
At a Macedon Ranges council information session on Monday, October 10, Gisborne police Sergeant Geoff Clapham said officers were keeping an eye on the issue.
Council said it was working closely with impacted residents with emergency relief needs, including material aid and housing support, a review of septic and rainwater tanks at affected properties and support with waste management.
There will be a drop-in community information meeting for Darraweit Guim at 5pm on Wednesday, October 19 at the Darraweit Guim Memorial Hall.
