Crows players make their mark on Riverland students
Crows players were given some odd requests during their visit to Riverland high schools on Thursday – but it’s the stories of flood-hit students that stand out.
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Even in December, in the dying days of a long school year, it’s a scene familiar to anyone who has trodden on, played on or even simply observed a footy oval in action anywhere across South Australia.
The fading green grass is a tumult of action as scores of kids chase kicks, fly for speccies or try the impossible checkside from the boundary line.
The only difference on Thursday in Renmark and Waikerie was that in among the bustle were a few Adelaide Crows players. Jordan Dawson was there flicking handballs to the girls and boys. Jordan Butts in among it, along with Will Hamill, Harry Schoenberg and Lachlan Sholl.
About half of the students admitted to being Crows’ fans, but the queues for autographs and pictures was long. And the requests were sometimes unusual. There was a request to sign a banana. Others wanted a player’s mark on their foreheads.
A country boy from Robe, Dawson had a simple message for the students of the Riverland, where towns such as Renmark and Waikerie have seen levels in the River Murray rise to the highest level since 1975 and with the peak not expected to arrive for another two weeks.
“For small communities in times like this, it’s when they come together and everyone knows each other and when families will help each other through tough times and its really important they stay together and stay connected,’’ Dawson said.
The Advertiser was in Renmark and Waikerie to promote The Advertiser Foundation Christmas Kids Appeal, which this year is being expanded from a toy drive to a food drive as well, helping underprivileged children and those from flood-affected communities along the Murray.
One of the most enthusiastic kids was 11-year-old Waikerie Primary School student Thomas Serafin, who described himself as the Crows’ number one fan. He packed his guernsey for the special occasion.
“I love the Crows, I think they are the best team, especially because Mark Ricciuto came from Waikerie,” he said. “Me and my dad watch all the games together.”
Renmark High principal Mat Evans said the town was a “strong, vibrant, resilient community and I am confident that this will get us through the next few months’’.
Mr Evans said while the “substantial work’’ of the Renmark Paringa Council would protect the school, he was worried about how students would be effected.
“I am conscious of the impact though for students over the holidays, we are normally a very active community with a lot of activity based on the river and on the water,’’ he said. “Potential loss of power, particularly for some of our families, is also a concern but we will monitor this and support students and families where we can.’’
Waikerie High School principal Craig Griffiths said while the waters won’t make it up the hill, the school community faces other obstacles.
“Many of our families live on blocks and pumping water becomes an issue with lack of power supply,” he said.
Some students will need to find a new way to arrive at school. The home of year 7 Renmark High student Declan Bonner is surrounded by water and the only way in or out is to use one of the family’s six tinnies. Declan’s father Robbie is lockmaster at lock five and the family is now heading to Mt Gambier for Christmas.
For others the trip has just become much longer.
Claire Ceeaters, 15 lives in Morgan and travels to school in Waikerie.
She crosses the river on the Cadell ferry. She said if it closes she will face a lengthy morning commute via Blanchetown.
“The bus ride currently takes an hour, but if the Cadell ferry shuts down, the trip could last two hours,” she said.
As the school term comes to an end, she is also worried about power being shut off at home.
“We would probably have to leave.”
Renmark High’s Lachlan Goody, 17, will be school prefect next year said the Crows’ visit was good for the area. “It’s a pretty cool to boost morale and stuff like It’s nice seeing them come down here and showing their support,’’ he said.
Deputy prefect Alex Teakle, 17, said it would help “draw attention’’ to rural towns at he said at a time that was “a bit nerve racking because we haven’t experienced anything like this, at least in our lifetime’’.
It wasn’t just sporting stars helping out. Education minister Blair Boyer and local Liberal MP Tim Whetstone had a kick of the footy together in Waikerie, possibly a more productive use of their time than attending the day’s question time at state parliament.
“I was really pleased to see how resilient the students have been and to test my footy marking skills against some of them,’’ Mr Boyer said. “The Advertiser Foundation’s initiative to support young people in flood affected areas is an important one, and one I was happy to play a part in.’’
Ollie’s flood deja vu as Mannum faces ‘scary’ Murray surge
Port Adelaide champion Ollie Wines knows all about the river. He also knows about the capacity for country people to stick together in tough times.
Wines is from Echuca in Victoria, a place where the River Murray meets the Goulburn and the Campaspe Rivers. The flood waters that recently barrelled through Echuca, causing much damage, are now heading downstream, over the border and towards South Australian river towns like Mannum.
By the river it’s about 1500km from Echuca to Mannum, but Wines sees the similarities.
“I think it’s a special thing from being from a country town everyone comes together and works together to help each other out,’’ Wines told the students at the Mannum Community College on Tuesday.
“I think it’s something that in the cities, they probably don’t get and don’t understand it, so you’re really tight community and band together and you’ll be right.’’
The Advertiser was in Mannum to launch of The Advertiser Foundation Christmas Kids Appeal, which this year is being expanded from a toy drive to a food drive as well, helping underprivileged children and those from flood-affected communities along the Murray.
Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas and Brownlow medallist Wines kicked footies with the kids.
The worst of the expected flooding is still several weeks away and Mannum is abuzz with activity as it prepares itself for whatever comes.
Semi-trailers and rigid-body trucks are common sights on the tight main street, the beep-beeping of reversing trucks fills the air.
There is a double red line of tyre marks down Randell St as the trucks cast off the heavy clay being used to build a levee that everyone hopes will protect the town. Soon, the bitumen on parts of Randell St will be ripped up to extend the levee even further.
The kids at Mannum Community College are playing their part as well. The school’s tractor was digging up sand at the College’s farm and 100 sandbags were delivered to help protect the town. The school is intending to deliver 100 bags a day until the emergency passes.
College principal Michelle Grieger said the students are “wanting to help wherever they can’’.
“We have not seen the full impact of the flood yet. It’s going to be a history making event but devastating for our families and small community,’’ Ms Grieger said.
The principal also said the flood would hit students hard over the coming school holiday period.
“There won’t be any areas safe to swim and I worry about the dangers of the flood waters,’’ she said.
Year 11 student Brianna Webber lives between Younghusband and Bowhill. Her house is safe but she has been watching the river rise.
“We can see the river and the backwaters rising up from our house and it’s a bit scary,’’ she said. “It’s a bit daunting.’’
Webber, 17, and other students on the school bus are already dealing with lengthier school days. Even though the Mannum ferry is still operating, the bus is diverting to cross the river at Murray Bridge because of flooded roads. Webber said this adds another 30-45 minutes to the usual bus journey. She is also going to lose her part-time job at the Bowhill General Store which will close when its power is cut in a few weeks.
Many small businesses are going to be hurt over the summer. Year 10 student Jake Jarratt’s parents run the Kia Marina, which sells and rents houseboats and berths in Mannum.
“It’s a tough time, mum and dad are just hoping it doesn’t go on too long,’’ the 16-year-old said.
It also means a different Christmas for the family. The normal festive houseboat run will have to be cancelled. As will his school holiday job in the family business.
Another family business under threat is Deja Vu Ski Shop, which will be on the wrong side of the Mannum levee. Kobee Dabinett‘s mum Kylie owns the shop and he said they were doing all they could to prepare for the flood. “I don’t think there’s much you can really do now, apart from get the stuff out,’’ he said.
Dabinett is a year 10 student who plays under-16s for Sturt in the SANFL. He was too modest to talk about his own dreams of playing AFL but said it had been “sick” to see Wines and Jonas having a kick on the school oval. Dabinett wasn’t the only student to turn into a Port fan for the day. Jonas and Wines were inundated with fans, old and new.
Jonas has his own experience with the river. His family has a shack at Bowhill and said the floods would mean a rare Christmas that wasn’t spent skiing on the river. He said the shack should remain safe but ”the sheds are going to get a bit wet’’.
Like many others before he hailed the “community spirit” he had seen in small communities such as Mannum, but also urged people to look after each other in what was going to be a stressful time. “If I was to leave you with one thing, it’s probably just to stick together,’’ he said.
“I think if you’re having a bad day or going through some tough times, it’s easier to actually share it with other people and have the conversation rather than carry the burden yourself.
“Either be the ear for someone else, or the shoulder to lean on or be the person that does reach out. You don’t have to go through it alone.’’
Head of The Advertiser Foundation Dan Demaria said Nova 919 and FIVEaa had added to the fun of the day with a number of activities, including a machine that launched footballs high into the air for the kids to mark.
“We are so grateful for Nova, FIVEaa and Foodland for partnering with us for today to help bring a little bit of Christmas joy to the kids of the Riverland,” he said.
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