CLUB MEETING 28th NOVEMBER 2022
PRESIDENT REX SHIELDS welcomed members and guests Wilma Crowther, Donny Sofra, Craig Brown.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT:
Been a busy weekend:
Open Garden Program and BBQ at Polling Station at Numurkah Town Hall.
Christmas Break up at the home of Judy McDonald and Rex Shields 12th December. Food provided, BYO drinks. Requesting salads.
Next week bowls night at Numurkah Bowls Club with Nathalia Rotary Club. BBQ meal, drinks available at bar prices.
Friday 8th, BBQ at Flavourite. Roster being circulated.
CHAIR: JACQUE PHILLIPS.
Nathalia Flood Recovery Centre launched today. Funded by Shire to support community.
COVID cases increasing locally, community to follow recommendations, hospital still subject to stringent rules.
Funding for Pioneer Lodge guaranteed.
GUEST SPEAKERS: DONNY SOFRA and CRAIG BROWN.
Donny and Craig spoke to the club about the inundation of Kaarimba and district, following the Loch Gary debacle.
Early 1900's levee constructed along Goulburn River to protect lower river plains, with the construction of Loch Gary to regulate the flows down the river.
When flood levels reach 10.6m at Shepparton, practice is to pull bars within 24 hours at Loch Gary. This should have taken place early Sunday but through lack of communication, delayed till late afternoon, by which time it was unsafe to pull the bars.
Could have been avoided, with water breaking through the levee and flooding crops and houses.
After levee failed, sandbagging by the small community commenced, the number of volunteers increased rapidly with the Waaia Football Club members and others joining.
On Monday evacuation order issued for Kaarimba. Volunteers increased to over 100, filling 17,000 bags in 4 days. Bags also sent to Barmah, Picola and Nathalia.
The Rotary Club of Numurkah took on the task of feeding the volunteers, which was gratefully accepted.
