Whose Name We Share

95 Operation Flood Assist As the Brigade sent members away to Operation Aged Care Assist, the biggest flood event had occurred in modern Australian history. Beginning in February, the Lismore disaster saw three significant rain events occur back to back over a four day period. Alone, these individual events would have caused a moderate flood however altogether they caused something much worse. Families in the affected areas were caught unaware as the official warnings issued by the State Emergency Service and Bureau of Meteorology failed to indicate the potential impact. Its been written that families had moved to the second storey of their homes thinking they were safe only to find themselves inundated in rising water. 670 millimetres of rain falls in the region, rising the waterways by up to 11 meters. The floodwater breaks records at 14.4 meters high. Command of the Battery had switched hands as well and the new Battery Commander Major Joel Oates had his work cut out for him from the get go. His approach to the task, no matter how last minute it was, made sure that the battery’s efforts did not go unappreciated. The Battery deployed with the wider Regiment under urgent haste, beginning in March and returning in April. Their time in Lismore and Casino would see them perform general duties in assisting the clean-up of flood affected communities. It was not glamorous work. It was fraught with clearing garbage, old fridges stacked with defrosted meat and soggy carpet. The clean-up was a monumental task laden with the risk of exposure to black mould, sewage and food waste. The emotional impact of seeing Australian communities in such a state of disrepair however weighed heavily on the members of the battery. As the Battery’s work took them across northern NSW and south Queensland, one such community they assisted was Blakebrook in their efforts to restore the public school which was badly damaged in the flooding. “It’s been confronting seeing the impact the floods have had on the community and the school.” Lieutenant Nick Jenkins said. “For my team to come in and assist, its been a privilege to help and to see the resilience of the community.” The locals were in need of help and were grateful to receive it.