Read Gina’s personal account. At the bottom of this article you will find links and information about flood appeals and how you can help.

Gina: Hello. Let me know if this is a bit heavy for you – I can give more community stories. I am on day 12 of being at home and only managed to get out to the farm and grab a few things… So I am quite isolated. Feel free to piece this together to be a bit more conversational.

Cb: How are you feeling a week after the floods?

Relieved that the water has receded and that we can start to get on with the clean up. It is surreal, apocalyptic, devastating… Yet, there are these moments that change you, a view from above, seeing the oneness in the loss, yourself struggling like many creatures, plants, insects, ecosystems, all in this together, the future has reached us and it is now a risk we need to manage.

It’s still happening, we are still flooded in and cannot leave by car but we can kayak out so have managed to get some food in.  

Cb: Can you describe the extent of the damage? 

Roads are becoming clear and we are moving towards assessing the extent of the damage. We are still trying to contemplate the damage for our communities, people’s stories are starting to be heard, but there are so many…

We were lucky, water came 1 metre into the house. However, as this is a flood plain our house has been built to withstand it. We lost a lot of stuff as we were ill-prepared for the extent of the water height. Our neighbour, who has lived here for over 50 years, has never seen it this high. It was over half a metre above the previous top levels.

Property damage is extensive and we are still coming to terms with it. Fencing is a huge issue being a region with so much cattle.

Cb: What has been the response in the community? 

The community has come together with food, basic needs and clean ups. Lots of individuals and families are coming to help in all kinds of ways. There has been lots of offerings of help; a community spirit is present. Ulmarra food co has been a drop-off point for goods.

Cb: What are some of the lessons this tragedy has taught you? 

The first responders are us, this is now clear when an event like this happens. This has changed our perspective on what “readiness” is and what we need to do to stay prepared.

Many areas are now designated flood plains. Extreme weather events are here and we need to build self sufficient communities that have the resources to pull together in an emergency. The frequency of events in our area are increasing in severity.

Food security is not a future issue, it is happening now. We need to increase to growing capacity within our region and build ecosystems that are resilient to natural disaster 

5. Anything further you’d like to share?

Regardless of whether you live in a city, apartment or farm, your access to food is at risk with extreme weather. We are all interdependent, reliant on each other to thrive. As farmers at Chaffin Creek Farm we are working on regenerating country by building the lands capacity to withstand a changing climate, increasing the food security for our region.

Cb: Thank you Gina.

If you would like to donate to a flood fund, see our article here and here. The ABC has a comprehensive list and information on trustworthy appeals.

The post Flood News: a personal story appeared first on Coastbeat.

But our beaches can be dangerous and even those who would consider themselves capable in the surf may have, at one time or another, found themselves seeking help.

Did you know that..

as of February 19, 2020 there have been 65 drowning deaths reported in Australia over summer? On average, one person has drowned every week at an Australian beach for the last 5 years and 10 people are rescued every day. Coastal areas account for 55% of drownings. 87% of the lives lost are male and a third of those lives are young men aged 18-34. As well as overseas visitors to our shores, those unfamiliar with the beach are at greater risk of drowning. We all need to be aware of the dangers our beaches present with rips being one of the most common hazards.

Three out of every four people do not know how to spot a rip

Being able to recognise a rip is one of the first steps in being able to avoid being caught in one. Here is an insightful video about how best to spot a rip with thanks to Surf Life Saving Australia.

We also caught up with Greg Hackfath, the Team Leader of Lifeguard Services on the Coffs Coast. Here’s what he had to say….

“A huge issue I see on a regular basis is trying to teach someone how to spot a rip current. The scenario most publicised is on a perfect day where you see a nice green or dark channel running between the sand banks and no waves breaking where the rip is, the rip travels perpendicular to the beach. Unfortunately, when large swells occur, or high winds, rips just aren’t that easy to spot, they have wave action in them, they move diagonally or circular and they can sometimes cross sand banks. To reiterate the facts, three in four people cannot spot a rip.”

Swimming at patrolled beaches and staying between the flags are musts when it comes to beach safety 

Greg’s tips on the best way to stay out of trouble at the beach:

Greg was also kind enough to share his tips on how you, your friends and family can stay safe:

• Whenever possible, swim between the red and yellow patrol flags.
• If there are no patrol flags erected, take five minutes to check the conditions. Ensure there are other people about (surfers in the water), have a flotation device (body board or surfboard), look for sand banks (it’s where the waves break), stay away from rocks, deep holes, river and creek mouths. If you don’t feel safe, DON’T GO IN.
• If you are unfortunate enough to get caught in a rip, STAY CALM, raise one arm and call for help, float and conserve energy and either wait for assistance or swim slowly towards the white water of breaking waves diagonally with the current (never against it). Remember white is right, green is mean.
• Recognise your own ability, over-estimating your skill can result in tragic consequences.
• NEVER attempt to rescue someone without a flotation device (body board or surfboard) …not an inflatable flamingo.
• Locals can also help. Talk to visitors in the area and if you see someone going in the water that you believe to be dangerous, tell them and direct them to a patrolled area.

For further information on what to do when caught in a rip and other beach safety advice – read this helpful fact sheet from Royal Life Saving.

The post How well can you spot a rip in the ocean? appeared first on Coastbeat.

While three years may seem like an extended time to be memorialising such an event, it’s for a good reason: The bicentenary recognises two key dates in Port Macquarie’s early history, the year John Oxley and his team of explorers surveyed the region for European settlement (1818) and the year Port was settled by the British (1821).

Throughout this period, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is looking to bring the community together to remember the history, heritage and people who make the region what it is today.

Things kicked off in October last year, when council hosted the successful ‘200 Together’ community event at the Town Green. This included cultural and heritage displays, historic tours across the CBD, live music and activities celebrating Indigenous culture.

Council and the community are now working together to bring more exciting events to the region over the next three years.

Mitch McKay, principal of Port Macquarie-Hastings Heritage and award-winning heritage consultant, has long been involved in promoting the history of the region. He says there are plenty of little-known facts about the region that make it one of the most historically-rich towns in the country.

“Port Macquarie is one of the oldest settlements in Australia,” says Mitch. “The settlement pre-dates every capital city in Australia except for Sydney and Hobart, and Port was one of the earliest places established for secondary punishment.”

History in the Glasshouse

Volunteer curator at the Port Macquarie Historical Museum, Debbie Sommers agrees that most people don’t realise the historical significance of the region. “Port Macquarie has a long tourism history and during the 1960s claimed itself as ‘Australia’s First Resort’,” says Debbie.

“The town’s association with our nation’s first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, is not widely known either, but had he not been our local member of parliament, federation would not have taken place in 1901. There are so many more stories that would fascinate people.”

Debbie says the bicentenary celebrations provide an opportunity to reflect on the past and an opportunity to help shape the future. “Such celebrations are about the place we live in and our cultural identity. Coming together as one community suggests shared values despite cultural and historical differences.”

Just as Port Macquarie is rich with history, it is also rich with ways to learn about it. One option is to explore the town on foot with walking tours conducted by Mitch. The ‘Uncovering our Past Tour’ delves into the history and archaeology of the region, while the ‘Grave Tales Tour’ explores the historic cemetery.

The Glasshouse exhibits the remains of an overseer’s cottage, while the Port Macquarie Museum has a wide local history collection on exhibit with themed displays covering everything from British settlement through to Port’s contemporary history as a popular tourist destination and sought-after sea change location.

The Port Macquarie Museum is located right near Port Central at 22 Clarence Street or online at www.portmuseum.org.au . For information on walking tours visit www.pmheritage.com.au and for further details on the bicentenary and related events visit www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au

The post Port Macquarie-Hastings 200 Years appeared first on Coastbeat.