COUPLE’S BUSH BRAVADO SAVES THE DAY

A couple that stepped in to support the flood-ridden outback town of Timber Creek in 2024 has been nominated for News Corp’s inaugural Bush Champions awards. Find out why.

Tristram and Raine Holcombe with their two children. Picture: File

When churning record flood waters cut off the outback town of Timber Creek for more than three weeks back in early 2024, morale among residents was understandably low.

Critically low supplies and little assistance devastated morale even further.

It was this that prompted Raine and Tristram Holcombe, a young couple who run a contract muster business, to take matters into their own hands.

“Our little supermarket closed down just a few days before the flood arrived, it was terrible timing,” said Ms Holcombe, aged 37.

“We are all very prepared for the wet season up here, we know it can be unpredictable and we have good stores, but this was very different.

“Typically if the highway closes it’s for a few days, not three weeks.”

Mr Holcombe hired a helicopter to deliver supplies. Picture: File

Cue some quick thinking and bush bravado.

Mr Holcombe, aged 39, hired a helicopter and flew to the nearest dry cattle station, about 60 km from Timber Creek.

He then borrowed a station car and drove three hours into Kununurra, where he shopped for those stranded in Timber Creek, before returning the same way and doing individual parcel drops via helicopter.

Back in town, the couple were a sight for sore eyes, knocking on doors with bags of essentials – which contained milk, bread, nappies, and baby formula.

“Pitching in and helping out is very much a part of bush life, it’s who we are, and who bush people are, that’s just what you do if you live in remote areas.

“We have nurses and teachers who run the local clinic and school living here, young families, elderly and Indigenous people in our community, and the government let us down.

“We had no help at all and we were left to fend for ourselves, it was very disappointing,” Raine says.

Ms Holcombe said it was disappointing to see no government assistance. Picture: Instagram

Beyond emergency food drops, they provided assistance to neighbours and the Indigenous community severely impacted by the crisis, and their station team donated countless volunteer hours to rebuilding local infrastructure such as repairing gates, fences and returning displaced livestock.

The couple, who have two children – 4-year-old Hallie and 2-year-old Stirling – lease 12,000 hectares along the mighty Victoria River.

Their property was devastated by the flood waters, and they lost cattle and the fences that Mr Holcombe had just finished repairing from the flood the year before.

Mercifully, when the waters finally subsided, they were able to locate all their horses.

“They’d been in chest deep water for all that time,” says Ms Holcombe.”

Mr Holcombe flew to Kununurra to get his supplies. Picture: Instagram

While they hope that the new NT government will be better prepared to provide emergency help to isolated communities such as theirs, the couple say they won’t hesitate to lend a hand.

It’s the initiative shown by the couple that has seen them nominated for News Corp’s inaugural Bush Champions awards, in partnership with Woolworths.

The awards recognise innovation, leadership and service across rural and regional Australia, with categories including Community Champion, Ag Champion and Young Champion.

Winners will be announced at a dinner attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as part of the National Bush Summit in Ballarat, Victoria, in August.

Category winners will receive $2000 with the overall Bush Champion awarded an additional $10,000.

Originally published as COUPLE’S BUSH BRAVADO SAVES THE DAY