Hard work: Paul Evans helped organise the sandbag-filling efforts at the Rochester Recreation Reserve.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
About 33,000 sandbags were filled by volunteers in Rochester on Wednesday and Thursday in a mammoth effort to protect homes and businesses in the town.
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Rochester SES controller Tim Williams said 11,000 sandbags were filled on Wednesday, while by 2.30pm on Thursday 10,000 had been filled at a sandbag-filling site at the Rochester Recreation Reserve and 7000 at one at the opposite side of the town near the swimming pool.
He expected a further 5000 would be filled before efforts ceased.
When McPherson Media Group journalists visited on Thursday, there were more than 60 people working in unison to get the job done.
Many were using shovels, while others were using a sandbag-filling machine.
Volunteers passed sandbags down a line, quickly filling vehicles that were lined up.
Community spirit: About 150 people turned out on Thursday to help fill sandbags at the Rochester Recreation Reserve.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Mr Williams estimated about 150 people volunteered on Thursday at the Rochester Recreation Reserve site alone.
Paul Evans was one of those running that site, and said not only locals had turned up to help, but also people from Echuca, Kyabram and Bendigo.
Many had been there both days.
“This is fantastic,” he said of the efforts of volunteers.
“We’ve been through this (major flooding) in 2011.
“We’re lucky we’ve got the community we have.
Load and tie: Jervaise Prime was among those filling sandbags in Rochester.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Jervaise Prime was among those filling sandbags.
She lives on a farm out of town and was not directly under threat; however, she wanted to help out.
“I just wanted to do something to help,” she said.
“Many hands make light work.”
New Rochester Football Club senior coach Ash Watson was another lending a hand.
The reason he was there was similar to many others.
“I’m born and bred in Rochester and I just wanted to help,” he said.
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