An amazing effort by local SES volunteers

THE October floods saw the biggest campaign for Alexandra SES volunteers since the 2009 fires with 11 rescues including seven via boat, 37 tonnes of sandbags being laid in Thornton, a further 15,000 sandbags distributed to residents with the help of Murrindindi Shire Council, and a $1400 fuel bill.

With Lake Eildon in the response area and living downstream on the Goulburn River, we had over 140 calls for assistance including the rescue of a young Acheron family, their five month old baby Ollie and their beloved pet dog and cat after they were cut off by floodwaters.

SES also assisted AusNet Services to reconnect power to Acheron after a vital power line fell next to the historic wooden Acheron Breakaway Bridge, disconnecting over 100 homes for two days.
The 100 year old Breakaway Bridge suffered extensive damage with debris pushing against the bridge and flooding destroying the connecting roadway.

High Angle and Swift Water SES volunteers assisted by gearing up to walk a new power line across the bridge, while AusNet Service personnel flew in via helicopter on the opposite side to catch the new power line cable.

Unit Controller Peter Weeks also extensively campaigned to have Goulburn Murray Water releases from Lake Eildon to be included in the Bureau of Meteorology warnings, which thankfully started last Saturday.

Alexandra SES also had extensive assistance from Marysville SES, Mansfield SES, Yea CFA, Alexandra CFA as well as Thornton CFA and Eildon CFA, and could not have completed the calls for assistance without their unwavering support.

Yea CFA went above and beyond to assist the SES in Yea. Peter Weeks is very thankful to them for their support, especially filling and distributing sandbags.

by Shannon Mitrow, deputy controller Alexandra SES