Lynne Mowbray, Clarence Valley Independent

A contingent of Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers from around NSW arrived in Maclean on Monday morning to assist with clean-up operations on Woodford Island.

Brigades from as far away Young, Cootamundra, Springside (near Orange) and Warialda met up with several other brigades at the Maclean Showground, before heading off to assist within our community.

Over the last few days these same crews have been helping out residents on Palmers Island.

Over the last week here in Maclean, the town has had an influx of assistance from around the State from not only RFS members, but SES, NSW Police Rescue, Army Reserves, NSWF+R Technical Support and NSWF+R Bulk Water Transfer System etc.

Thank you also to all our local members of the above services, the Clarence Valley Council (CVC) and local police.

It was a mammoth effort to help stabilise Maclean’s levee wall. Endless loads of fill were brought in by our local earthmoving contractors in tip trucks, with heavy earthmoving equipment to spread and compact it.

But a huge shout out has to go out to the local community as a whole. Residents and families; the men women and children who rolled up their sleeves, turning up with their own shovels to help sandbag. Many working through the night in the rain, sandbagging the levee wall in an effort to stop water inundating our town.

Thank you to everyone who was involved, for the top effort in saving our town. Well done!

More flood photos as https://clarencevalleynews.com.au/ and in the issue.

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 9 March 2022.