General News
13 November, 2022
Residents say thanks
IT’S a great community and everyone did their bit, said Pyramid Hill Fire brigade captain Steve Mann as residents relaxed at a community barbecue on Thursday. Their work over more than two weeks had kept the town safe from the brunt of surging...
IT’S a great community and everyone did their bit, said Pyramid Hill Fire brigade captain Steve Mann as residents relaxed at a community barbecue on Thursday.
Their work over more than two weeks had kept the town safe from the brunt of surging floodwaters making their way across the Loddon, since mid-October.
“They manned the pumps or filled sandbags ... it showed yet again our community gels,” said Captain Mann.
He had called the first Loddon community meeting of the flood emergency that saw 350 people in the Pyramid Hill Memorial Hall three hours later as battle plans were explained.,
Many of those people were back for Thursday’s barbecue where the Lions club cooked main course meats and United Filipino Organisation the traditional dessert of shakoy (donuts)
Neighbourhood house co-ordinator Kim Bennett had secured a grant for the event, local college students prepared the hall to again welcome the community and Northern District Community Health distributed pamper packs.
While an occasion without speeches, there was praise around the tables for the work and leadership of CFA volunteers.
Residents spoke of their admiration for Steve Mann’s leadership that had Pyramid Hill ready to avoid a repeat of the 2011 floods.
Arriving at the barbecue, one said: “It’s our town. We just did what needed to be done.”
The massive volunteer effort also saw a levee bank constructed and pumps placed at key points to keep water out as surrounding creeks continued to rise.
While water has receded, local creek levels remain high and sheets of water of continue to have farm paddocks water logged.
Kim said further events were planned to keep local communities connected in the flood recovery phase.
- CHRIS EARL