IT doesn’t matter your age, fitness or time you can spare, so long as you have two hands, you are welcomed.
An army of locals from all directions of the Gannawarra shire have rolled up their sleeves since last Thursday and prepared thousands of sand bags for when the major peak arrives.
Kelly McKnight, who has been helping co-ordinate sandbagging locations via social media, said “we have banded together again”, with locals joining the SES and CFA in a well-oiled operation.
“This community is special, they know that it’s the same goal to save land, homes, animals and crops … we all want the same result in the end,” she said.
“We’ve had elderly ladies in their 80s cooking goodies and bringing them down, to five year olds holding sandbags open.
“It doesn’t matter your age”
Ms McKnight said Sunday was the biggest turnout at Mawsons in Kerang, with more than 100 people on the shovels.
“It was just amazing,” she said.
“Everyone learnt a lot from 2011 – it’s kind of like riding a bike because it was only 10 years ago. You get back into the swing of action.”
For now, Ms McKnight said the community just “kind of want it over with”.
“We can deal with it and get through it all,” she said.
“We all know someone on the outskirts of the levee who are preparing to lose lots of crops. We know it’s a disappointing result for farmers.
“But we have to listen to the powers to be; they have a good idea of what they are doing and just have to trust them.
Read about how volunteers helped out here
Sandbags can be collected from the following locations:
– Appin: Appin CFA shed
– Cohuna: Bags are available from the Cohuna Fire Brigade headquarters. Sand is available at the Cohuna Recreation Reserve
– Kerang: Kerang SES Unit (Tate Drive) and Mawson’s (Wellington Street, next to the railway line)
– Koondrook: Bags are available from the Koondrook Fire Brigade headquarters. Sand is available from the Council depot in View Street
– Murrabit: Murrabit Recreation Reserve
– Quambatook: Quambatook Transfer Station
