Friday, April 18

Rain drops kept falling on our house

The steady drumming of an army of torrential rain on our tin roof abated bringing a welcome respite, but the night sky remained dark and menacing as faint moon beams cast a deathly shadow through the clouds to shimmer over murky brown waters below. My world had magically turned into a raging sea of swirling brown mud and debris captive to its fast flowing current. There was nothing else in front of me.

Day’s earlier under an endless blue sky , cattle peacefully grazed on pastures beside a tranquil river which meandered behind our home in Kyogle. It was a time in my life of certainty and endless childhood joy as I rushed home from school each day into the paddocks with my companions to play imaginative games by the river. Armed with our swords fashioned from left over wooden crates the grazing cattle became imagined ferocious wild animals, trees our only refuge, our pet dog and cat our faithful protectors. Each day our activities were interrupted by my mother calling from the porch ‘The Search’, an abbreviation for our favourite radio show. ‘The Search for the Golden Boomerang” was due to commence. We listened intently and with such excitement as is only possible when the unseen is allowed to expand from word descriptions alone to such grand proportions within a child’s imagination.

The family home built on high stilts was purchased as flood free and consequently despite the cyclonic rain of that fateful day we believed would be safe. As the floodwaters entered our backyard I imagined myself as a fisherman and dangled my line in the brown waters. But as my excitement increased as the rising waters inched up the back steps, my parents decided it was prudent to evacuate across the road to a neighbour located on much higher ground. My father told me not to worry as he was staying on to protect our furniture and effects by storing it upstairs and on the roof.
My mother, clutching a hurriedly packed small suitcase and I walked through torrential rain down the front steps up on to the road then across the steep grassy slope leading up to the steep steps of our neighbours house. Once I had changed from wet clothes I was able to join my neighbours son who was one of my companions. One of his favourite games was to act as a pretend priest (as he had already determined this was to be his adult vocation). He took great delight in donning whatever colorful garb he could lay his hands on and with added silverware proceeded to administer his own version of holybread and water to cheer us up. Even so I felt less than reassured and soon wandered out on to the front verandah to see what was happening.

The rain had abated for a temporary reprise and I could see my father swimming around in our flooded home, attempting to place objects onto a higher vantage point in what was a futile attempt to avoid the ever raising floodwaters. Mother was becoming increasingly concerned as the floodwaters became stronger and lapped over the window sills. She watched intently, her small frame rigid like a mousetrap ready to snap at the slightest surface disturbance. I sensed her growing fear but to our relief my father apparently realized the futility of any further endeavors and struck out with slow measured strokes through the half submerged bedroom window for the safety of dry land.

It was a long swim through raging waters. I observed his usual slow unhurried but rhythmic style that characterized everything he did in life and it was with mild relief I saw him reach dry land. Still fully clothed, cold, and exhausted yet determined, he manfully hauled himself up onto the bank. Eventually he joined us on the verandah as we all watched in silence our house disappear under the mighty waters of the Richmond River. I remembered thinking that this adventure had reached its final climax and wondered what had befallen others. I stood observing and saw a new world in front of me, one that had been transformed unto a raging sea of swirling brown mud and debris.

Elsewhere tragedies were occurring. Some folk lost their lives as homes were washed away in the raging torrent whilst others perished when their rescue boat capsized. Others clung on grimly to trees and were miraculously rescued. Amongst the sadness of stories too deep for a young heart to fully understand were other of great heroism as men with their flimsy boats rushed to continually help those in desperate trouble.When the waters subsided we returned to what was left of our family home. I will never forget the endless mud and that pungent odor, like no other I have ever experienced a reminder of unexpected death and destruction. But I cannot recall feeling frightened or lonely. Even as our meager supplies dwindled word came that help was on its way. Sure enough the faithful drone of a DC 3 aircraft signaled a hope for fresh produce as we watched white parachutes with their heavily laden supplies attached drift earthward into our welcoming hands.In the aftermath the sheets of corrugated iron dislodged from houses were put to good use to make canoes. The iron was simply folded over and both ends sealed with tar, to deliver milk and supplies to stranded townsfolk. Each morning search parties sett out with grim faces to look for bodies. Every organization imaginable rushed in to help including the local Girl Guides Association who were recognized later with an international award for their outstanding service. All of the community shared in its tragedy and no one felt alone.

It was too painful for my parents to stay so they sold the family home for a fraction of its previous value and the financial consequences and hardship lingered on for many years afterwards.
The memories of our beloved home in its delightful setting, transformed into a sea of brown surf, remain with me as clear today as they were so long ago.

10 comments:

Cartledge said...

That was a story told in the tradition of some of my favourite writers. Reminiscent of Lawson telling of the hardships Gulgong (?) life.
You are full of surprises.

Unknown said...

Wow! Emotionally potent> I cn only imagine having to give up such a place!!

gfid said...

what a story of community and loss. it both warms and breaks my heart at the same time.

Trevor said...

Lindsay, Your recollection of this important childhood even was very moving and evocative. I especially liked the image of your father and his 'measured swimming stroke' and your mother 'poised like a mousetrap' ready to snap. Good stuff!

Gary said...

Lindsay, what a well written memory. I feel like you took me back with you. The land, the people...what we go through together!

Thank you.

lindsaylobe said...

Hi Cart, Michael, Gfid, Trevor, & Gary
Thankyou for the positive feedback. It is a story of childhood memories that remain firmly etched in my mind.
Cart ~ Gulgong ~ Lawson ~Water Them Geraniums’.
- A Lonely Track-Lahey’s Creek
Lawson was such great writer yet he only spent about 3 months in the bush in later life.

Best wishes

Cartledge said...

Lawson is one of the few writers I read and reread. I was stuck by how much you captured the essence of his story telling.

Zee said...

why did I not comment earlier?
I don't know. Perhaps we have weather on the east coast of the US that is too dreamy and nice.
Great pleasure to read your story Lindsay!!

susan said...

This is a wonderful story, Lindsay. I felt so bad when you talked about your Dad trying to save all the stuff in the doomed house and your Mother being brave. Both of them understood the most important thing of all was to go on living.

DVA Theatre Company said...

Wow! I can't believe I haven't read this story before. I am so impressed by your story telling qualities, both in the descriptions of the devestation and in your ability to capture the childs perspective on such a life changing event.
Isn't it amazing that even in the midst of a terrible disaster children can find fun, like the way your childhood friend dressed up as a preist and tried to administer communion.
I just loved reading this piece of your history. Well done.
Nicla