Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Just saw this - gives some idea of the terrible conditions there.

G’day all and thank you for the well wishes.

Still not great down here, road still closed to residents only. The army has put truck sized gennys at street corners and after 9 days we have power at Lake Conjola (not all streets in Conjola Park though), which is good, but makes us also very aware that 90 or so houses aren’t there for power to go to.

Incredible to have the internet and information, lived with an old battery tranny and that’s been pretty much our only contact with the outside world.

Mobile phones are still SOS or No Service, we haven’t heard when that will be fixed.

The garbage has finally been picked up after 15 days, they were full of Xmas foodstuffs and NYE foodstuffs and seafoods that never got to be eaten. And also the fridges and freezes full of rotten food, the bins were pretty ripe after that 47°+ day. Also the pump out sewers have been finally pumped out.

There’s a large semi type vehicle today that’s been brought in with hot showers and washing machines for the poor buggers that didn’t get hooked up to one of the army gennies.

There’s not a single tourist here, its eerily quiet. The residents that stayed all look pretty haggard, the ones that evacuated are dribbling back and I think the adrenaline that we have lived off has gone and the reality of the rebuilding problems that the area and the lake are in for in the future when we get rain and toxins get washed in are starting to sink in.

The devastation down here is seriously indescribable. I don’t know how much has been on the news as we just haven’t had any. Cops have been patrolling around a lot for looters, can you f#cking believe that there are looters? Would it be ok to put a .357 between their eyes?

Hope all are well and looking forward to things improving.

Cheers,
Jim

Its good to hear from you personally Jim, I doubt any of us can actually comprehend what you've been through , but things sound a bit better & that's a good thing , you description of matters make me think of things I hadn't considered before.
carry on & be safe mate.
best regards, Bruce & Angie.

Well said, Gill.....

So glad for the good news of prayers answered - hope the rebuilding of your lives and all the others affected goes well.

Somewhat late to the thread but I've been following this on the news as best I can. I don't think any of us who haven't been through it can begin to imagine what it's like but I'm sure you know the whole world is wishing you well and a speedy recovery, in all senses.

I have family living in Nowra and Berry, not far away and also affected. Trying to keep in touch and getting any updates has been a nightmare and a worrying time.

I've been to some of the places devastated and comparing my photos with news shots has left me with no words, it's just awful.

Great to read a post from you Jim!

So glad to hear you made it through that ordeal, it is sad to hear that there are those so low as to be looting in such circumstances, however it is certainly not unique to your area. My aunt here in British Columbia related to me that when the RCMP came around to notify them to evacuate they also took any firearms for safe keeping otherwise they would not be there when they returned.