Andy’s Roadhouse: Ingham legend steps up again during flood disaster
Ingham identity Andy Barra is in his element helping stricken motorists and personally dispensing vitally needed fuel to disaster-struck Hinchinbrook residents.
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Ingham identity Andy Barra is in his element helping stricken motorists and personally dispensing vitally needed fuel to disaster-struck Hinchinbrook residents.
As he pumped gas at his namesake Andy’s Roadhouse on the Bruce Highway just south of Ingham, the sprite and affable octogenarian said he did not believe the floodwaters surpassed those of the infamous flooding caused by Cyclone Dinah in 1967.
“In ’67 there was 18 inches more of water here than what there was this year,” Mr Barra said on Saturday afternoon.
“This is a big flood, don’t get me wrong, but I think ’67 may have been a bit higher … but here it was definitely a foot to 18 inches lower.”
Mr Barra said 30 to 40 people had sought shelter at the roadhouse on the first two days of the disaster, with rampaging floodwaters preventing motorists from entering Ingham or retreating south.
“It might have been 50 and we fed ‘em breakfast, fed ‘em dinner and fed ‘em tea, every day.”
He said they quickly ran out of supplies, including drinks, bread and milk.
“And the people were so good, when they finally got to town they were getting gear from in town and bring it out to us, it was amazing,” he said.
“Coles and Woollies were giving out a lot of stuff and then people were bringing it out here for us to cook for them, we had to, it was a godsend, there was nothing else.”
Mr Barra said the fuel situation was “good, 100 per cent”.
Ampol donated $5000 worth of free fuel.
Large parts of Ingham and the Hinchinbrook Shire remain without electricity, with many needing fuel to power generators to keep appliances running and to recharge devices.
My Fruit Shop, a family owned and operated farm business from Crystal Creek also dropped off a large load of fresh fruit and vegetables at Andy’s on Friday.
Ampol Ingham were filling vehicles on Saturday morning before closing at midday, much to the dismay of motorists lining up around the block for petrol.
Shell Coles Express Ingham have also been filling jerry cans and fuel containers.
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Originally published as Andy’s Roadhouse: Ingham legend steps up again during flood disaster
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