Bravery of Riverland and Murraylands communities praised amid floods ahead of Christmas
For those in the Riverland and Murraylands, Christmas will look a little different this year – but the community spirit and bravery of locals is shining in these tough times.
SA News
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Mayors and community leaders from the Riverland and Murraylands have praised the bravery and community spirit of their constituents as they face down floodwaters over Christmas.
With the rising river disrupting celebrations up and down the state’s biggest inland waterway, the usual Christmas holiday activities of water skiing, barbecues and yabbies on the bank have been replaced by evacuations, levee building and sandbagging.
But leaders have told how that famous river spirit has risen to the top, with the communities pitching in to help one another.
District Council of Loxton Waikerie chief executive David Beaton said support agencies in the area had been busy helping people whose Christmas had been disrupted by the floods, providing financial assistance and distributing food packages, and he praised the community for its hard work through the tough situation.
“The message from the council is to be safe and enjoy your time with the family and look forward to working together next year towards recovery,” he said.
“The community spirit here is still going strong.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Berri Barmera Mayor Ella Winnall, who said she had been “blown away by the resilience and generosity of the Riverland spirit”.
“The community obviously cares deeply for the residents and businesses directly affected, but anyone who lives here also cares deeply about the river and the environment so to see the flood plains getting a drink is a special moment for us,” Ms Winnall said. “There’s a lot of volunteers and workers from various agencies staying here over Christmas from across Australia to support the Riverland.
“I am so thankful for everyone who isn’t getting much of a rest in these next few weeks so that our community can be supported throughout and I particularly want to wish them a very Merry Christmas from us.”
Renmark Paringa Mayor Peter Hunter said there remained a feeling of “anxiousness, caution and hope” among local families.
“Yes, we have a high river – but just how high will it go?” Mr Hunter said.
“Yes, we have extensive banks around the township but will they be enough?
“Or for some of those outside the three main townships (there is) a greater degree of concern, especially if your property is closer to the river and perhaps without a levee.”
However, there was also a feeling of hope in the region, and confidence that emergency services had the situation in hand.
“We have an incredible, supportive group of people within and around our area and I wish to express my sincere thanks to each and every one who has extended a hand to others – through making the phone call, visiting or making contact via social media to check on each other,” he said.
“Let’s keep this sense of supporting each other, showing our faith in others and our kindness to all.”
Mid Murray Mayor Simone Bailey said that, likewise, the Mannum and surrounding communities were banding together to ensure smiles on faces as the region celebrated Christmas.
“We’ve got community groups looking at organising Christmas lunch for everyone who is missing out,” she said.
“The evacuees at the sporting ground are having a celebration just for the fact we’ve made it this far.”
Ms Bailey said the Christmas spirit was alive and well with people wanting to give and help people in need and was galvanising the community; a fact worth celebrating on its own.
“The sense of community and the willingness for people to help each other up at the relief centre is fantastic,” she said.
“We have been through a lot but we really just need some positivity now and that’s what we’ll do this Christmas.”
Mr Beaton said the Christmas break would be welcomed by those negotiating closed roads to get to and from work.
“Hopefully people can stay at home for a few days,” Mr Beaton said.
“If they live in Loxton and work in Berri, or vice versa, they won’t have to make these big detours to get to and from work and they can spend some more time with their families.”
There also was a feeling of optimism in the region as people could see that the flood peak was near, he said.
“They can see some light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
“Of course there’ll be a lot of stuff that needs to be cleaned up, but there’s a degree of confidence that things have been handled right and that we’re ready for the recovery next year.
“All the stuff that’s been floating down the river like the pine posts that you can’t get rid of, chemical drums, old fridges and barbecues that have washed off the flood plains, it will all need to be cleaned up.”
Ms Winnall encouraged people who didn’t live on the river to visit and support local businesses in coming weeks and months.
“We need South Australians to continue supporting us, not just now but throughout next year,” she said.
“So on Christmas Day plan a family holiday up here, eat and drink our incredible produce, and take some time to check in with your friends and family living in river communities.”
Ms Bailey also reminded travellers that Mannum and other Mid Murray communities were still open for business and great places to spend their holiday breaks.
Murray Bridge Mayor Wayne Throley said his community agreed, saying his region, which was famous for river sport and river relaxation during the Christmas season, still had lots to offer while the river was out of reach.
He said the region was the ideal place to visit these holidays to watch nature “take its course” with safe areas to witness the full force of the Murray despite bans on being on the water.
“Stay safe, enjoy what our community has to offer and let’s hope the new year brings a brighter picture for us all,” Mayor Thorley said.
And, Murray Bridge might be set for a unique post-flood celebration. Elected members decided it would be “inappropriate” for council to hold its regular New Years celebrations by the river while the community was impacted and suffering due to inundation, but the celebrations might not be completely shelved.
“We do understand how much the community values and enjoys our New Year’s Eve celebrations, and so the council will consider holding a delayed event involving entertainment and fireworks once floodwaters have receded,” a council spokesperson said.
Santa is coming to … the Riverland
Santa Claus has flown from the North Pole to surprise Riverland children with a special visit at the library.
The little ones were smiling while lining up at Santas cave at Renmarks Public Library on Thursday, eagerly awaiting to tell him what they want for Christmas.
Owner of Paringa Hotel, Simone Skinner took her young daughters to the library for some Christmas crafts.
“We weren’t expecting to see Santa, so it’s a bit of a surprise that we’ve got to see him here,” she said.
Mrs Skinner’s daughters, Ava, 7, and Mila, 4, where hoping Santa will drop off monkey bars, an inflatable pool and a plush puppy under the tree on Sunday morning.
The family will be having a family Christmas at home for the day, before attending to the hotel on Boxing Day.
“It’s quieter,” Mrs Skinner said. “We’re used to having more visitors around this time of year.”
“We’re still getting support by the locals, which is really lovely.
“But certainly this time of year were used to more people in the area visiting, especially after Boxing Day – usually Boxing Day until January 5 is usually our busiest time of the year and were not expecting the usual people that we’ll get because there’s just no visitors to the regions.”
The Riverland Christmas Appeal have been working hard distributing Christmas hampers and toys to families and individuals in need.
About 400 families have collected hampers per day across distribution points including Renmark, Loxton, Berri and Barmera.
“The families, and applicants we’ve spoken to have been really happy,” Riverland Christmas Appeal co-ordinator Carolyn Trifonoff said.
“We’ve had a lot of the messages that it made their Christmas and they were worrying that they weren’t going to be able to afford either presents for their children or even just getting something nice for Christmas.”
The hamper include goodies including an assortment of Christmas treats, tinned ham and vegetables, pasta and sauce, rice, tuna and savory biscuits.
“The community support has been fantastic … we couldn’t survive without the generosity of the local people and service groups,” she said.
The Riverland Appeal have been helping locals during the Christmas period for over 10 years, but this year has seen higher numbers than last.
“Renmark has had a huge increase from last year and most likely it’s to do with people being unsure where they’re going to be and what’s going to happen and I guess to the cost of living as well with the flooding,” Ms Trifonoff said.
“Part of the issue too, is the cost of living has definitely increased but we are occasionally having shortage of particular things on week, so one week you might have something and then the next week you don’t.”
A letter from Santa, to the kids of SA
G’day there kids of South Australia, it’s me, Father Christmas.
Can you believe it’s that time of the year again! I certainly can’t. It only seems like yesterday I was loading up the sleigh with the gifts, waxing her runners, polishing Rudolph’s nose and trying to whip Prancer into action.
Oh, hang on, that WAS yesterday – my old brain gets a bit confused these days. We’re all loaded up and ready to hit the skies to deliver the presents my elves have been frantically making all year.
As you know, my custom call is usually “Ho, ho, ho”, but I’ve been thinking I should probably change that to “High, high, high” when we get to the River Murray this year.
I’ve been watching the water go higher and higher up as the floods have come down from your friendly neighbours in Victoria and NSW.
Seriously, what on earth were they thinking? I know your state has been lobbying for years to get a fairer share of the water in the Murray Darling Basin, but struth – what they’ve sent you this year is just a step too far. I mean, good on them for entering the spirit of Christmas giving, but come on guys, enough already!
I actually love my annual trips to the River Murray – it’s one of my favourite places in the world. Actually I want to tell you a secret no-one else knows about how the reindeer and I get between many of the towns in the Riverland and Murraylands. When we get close enough, I hook up a rope and let the guys take me for a midnight wakeboard.
I used to go barefooting, but I’m not as young as I used to be. Still, it’s such good fun – don’t tell Mrs Claus though, because she thinks I’m too old for this sort of shenanigans.
Of course, it’s technically illegal to wakeboard after sunset, but I always clear it with SAPOL, who grant me special permission in the wake of (see what I did there!) the joy I am able to bring to the region.
I know there will be no wakeboarding this year, unfortunately, and my heart goes out to the flood-affected boys and girls, and their families, who will be doing it tough this Christmas.
It’s going to be a long road to recovery for these families, so please ask your parents to give them plenty of support in the next few months.
Oh, and keep being kind to your parents. And your siblings. My Naughty List isn’t very long at all this year, so I know most of you are doing the right thing, which is great.
You guys are all so lucky to live in South Australia. I often mention to Mrs Claus that South Australian kids are the coolest kids in the world.
Lots of love,
Father Christmas
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