At nine o’clock, the next morning , the Melbourne Weather Bureau had issued flood warnings for the Thompson, Avon and Macalister rivers and alerted all local emergency services to be on stand by. Des Sinnott, Chief Controller of the Maffra Unit of the State Emergency Services ( S.E.S. ) looked out of his window at the rain tumbling down. The experienced veteran of many rescues was concerned and had a nasty gut feeling about this rapidly escalating situation. He got on the phone and began to ring farmers in low lying areas suggesting to them that as a precaution they move their stock to higher ground. He spoke in a calm, measured voice so as not to panic people unnecessarily, but at the same time firmly told them that they should be prepared to evacuate their properties quickly if ordered.
He wasn’t able to contact many as this was a Saturday morning. Many had taken off for Maffra or Sale to do their weekly shop, whilst others were parking their cars around the steel perimeter of the Newry Football ground for the home game against the Stratford Swans. Saturday at the football was a regular meeting place for locals to catch up and socialise, enjoy a cuppa or a beer whilst watching their boys in yellow and blue battle against all comers and discuss solutions to the world’s problems. Those that Sinnott had managed to contact didn’t show too much concern and told him reassuringly that their families had been through previous floods many times and knew how to handle any situation and look after themselves. Sinnott was frustrated at their apathy as all of his data showed a dangerous situation was developing.
Towards evening the river levels were well down on dangerous levels and there seemed no need for panic or preparation to move stock, so the farmers settled into their homes in anticipation of a quiet night.
Bill and Eileen Unwin, a semi retired dairy farming couple in their mid sixties whose property borders the Thompson River at Tinamba listened to Des Sinnott’s message on their phone answering machine. Bill who knew the Gatekeeper at the small Cowwarr Weir rang him for an update on the situation. He was glad that Bill had called him because others that he spoke to didn’t take his warnings seriously. He told Bill that due to the heavy rainfall in the mountains, there was this massive wall of water heading downstream which would reach Tinamba during the night sometime. Immediately Bill began to ring stock carriers, finding that most of them were all booked up. Eventually he found one at nearby Heyfield who agreed to cart his entire stock of beef cattle to nearby higher ground. To speed up the process, Bill helped the carrier to load his cattle whilst in the meantime Eileen stayed in the house and began lifting their valuable possessions onto the kitchen table and high shelving. Once the cattle had left and they had done all that they could to protect their valuables, they planned to drive to their daughter’s place until the flood waters subsided. It was pitch black outside. The rain and the strong wind brought on a sense of uneasiness.
Nearby neighbours of the Unwins’, Geoff and Maureen Stephens were enjoying a hot meal in front of the TV whilst watching the news. A Flood Alert for their area surprised them as there appeared to be no flooding of the river behind their house. Geoff had shone a powerful torch towards the river bank and all appeared to be normal. To reassure themselves that they were safe they decided to take a drive around nearby roads to see for themselves if any had flooded. Geoff owned a powerful diesel four wheel drive vehicle. He was confident that he could safely cross a moderately flooded road without his engine stalling. Darkness had settled in. After a short drive to nearby Tinamba, he turned back for home at the roundabout near the store. He was puzzled at the seemingly unnecessary panic as there was not that much water covering the road. From the Roundabout he could see the cars parked at the front of the Tinamba Hotel which was full to capacity and the uncovered windows showed the place full of diners enjoying themselves; many celebrating the win Newry had in the football that afternoon. The steady rain continued, easing slightly its earlier intensity.
Brian and Pam Nazzari with two of their five children Korine 14, and Samone 13, were on their way home to Heyfield after visiting Pam’s family in Melbourne to discuss a joint business venture. Recently settled into their new home town of Heyfield, the plan was to set up a nursery and supply plants to Pam’s mother who owned a much bigger nursery in Melbourne. Heyfield is a small timber town located about 15 kilometres west of Tinamba. They were towing a large trailer behind their family station wagon. Both trailer and car were loaded with household items, plants and bits and pieces as they were still in the process of relocating into their new Heyfield home.
It had been a long tiring day. Korine and Samone slept in the back seat secured in their seat belts. Brian and Pam, also very weary after spending the whole afternoon loading and securing their trailer with a tarpaulin and loading up their station wagon were looking forward to getting home and out of this “dirty” weather. Brian hated driving in the rain, uncomfortable as his headlights reflected a shiny, slippery road surface. Sometimes his eyes focused on the moving white line in the middle of the road; other times at the gauges on his console to make sure everything was within limits. The radio was his company as Pam sat beside him falling in and out of sleep. With only thirty kilometres to home, Brian let out a sigh of frustration and swore under his breath to see his headlights illuminate a yellow and black barrier sign stretched across the road advising of a detour to Heyfield via Tinamba. Another sign in the middle of the road advising the detour was due to flooding over the road. He knew that the journey home would be extended for at least a further half an hour. Not many things in life stressed Brian, his cool affable nature and a belief that if you can’t change a situation, then you make the best of it helped him accept change and cope more easily. He continued along the Princes Highway and turned off at the Maffra turnoff at Nambrok just past the McGauran historical mansion into Denison Road.
The family didn’t pass or see any oncoming cars as they drove through the darkness along that straight stretch of road till it came to the bend at the Gibson Knox bridge. The rain was pelting down so hard on the car roof that it was impossible to hear anyone speak. A tired, lethargic Brian turned up the radio to help him stay awake.
As they crossed the Gibson and Knox bridge over the Thompson River at Tinamba with only twenty minutes from home, Brian planned to buy Take-Away in Heyfield have an early night and a long sleep in on Sunday morning. They were going to unpack the car and trailer in the morning.
Driving only a short distance past Gibson Knox bridge they stopped at water rippling over the road. Brian saw the headlights of a four wheel drive coming towards them and pulled over to the side of the road intending to ask the driver for advice on getting to Heyfield..
Geoff and Maureen Stephens saw the stationary station wagon pull over on the flooded road and drove up alongside them to see if they needed assistance. After a quick discussion of options, both drivers agreed it was best for Brian to turn around and follow Geoff back over the bridge the way they had just come from.
As they were about to drive off, they saw the headlights of another car approaching through the misty rain which had slightly eased off. In that car Bill and Eileen Unwin were on their way to their daughter’s place. The three cars joined up and there was a feeling of security and safety in numbers. Suddenly Geoff felt a pang of panic pass through his body and he shifted uneasily in his seat as a cold shiver ran down his spine. For a seasoned local, this didn’t feel good.
Soon the convoy of the three cars had crossed the bridge; It was only eight minutes ago that the Nazzari’s had driven along this road which had no water laying on it. Now there was no road visible, only a huge stretch of water creating a giant lake.
Geoff didn’t want to panic Maureen but he knew their situation was dire. They were stranded in this huge expanse of water not being able to see the outline of a road. He tightened his fingers around the steering wheel and could feel the strong pull of the water current pushing against the car. He knew that if his vehicle had been petrol driven then he would have been stalled in the middle of this lake of water. Which is precisely what happened to the Unwin and Nazzari vehicles following his. Geoff instructed Maureen to keep an eye on the two stranded cars behind them.
Suddenly Maureen let out a shriek and her hands shot up to cover her face. She was horrified to see both vehicles that were behind them suddenly taken by the strong current out into the middle of the dark abyss, their headlights bobbing up and down as they moved sideways further and further away from them. All three cars were now separated.
Floating through the swirling water in the strong current, Bill and Eileen Unwin knew that only a miracle could save their lives. Even if they were only half their age, they would still have been no match in this confrontation with Mother Nature. They were doing the right thing. They were going to safety to their daughter’s place. They didn’t deserve or ask to be the central characters in this nightmare. As their utility bobbed up and down like a cork it suddenly came to a stop as it hit and snagged itself against a fence post with the current pushing the car, still partly submerged onto slightly higher ground. Was this their chance to escape the danger? Hope immediately turned to despair because the outside pressure of the water was too great which prevented the door from being pushed open. This was their window of opportunity and they knew there was no time to waste. But the door would not budge Quick thinking and Bill knew that a decision had to be made immediately. It had to be the right one, as this was their only chance.
Bill quickly related his plan to Eileen, who agreed to go with his decision. With great courage and trepidation Bill grabbed hold of the window winder and wound the window all the way down. As the water rushed into the cabin Bill whispered a silent prayer, grabbed the door handle, turned it and forced the door open. He grabbed Eileen by the arm tightly and pulled her behind him as the couple scrambled out into water a metre and a half deep, finally wading onto the sanctuary of land. Their local knowledge was a key factor in their escape as both knew the area and in which way to walk to safety. They looked back into the darkness and wondered at what had become of Brian, Pam and their two little girls.
At the same time at a different location in the flood, Geoff and Maureen Stephens were also staring into the darkness wondering the same thing as the Unwins’ “Where are the Nazzaris ? They were beside themselves knowing that somewhere out in the darkness, in the rain a young family was in great danger if they were still alive. A consolation came their way when through the rain and wind the silhouette of two people clinging to each other approached. They were the figures of Bill and Eileen Unwin. The stark granite like features against the black sky of a sopping wet Bill and Eileen stagger towards them in knee deep water was a short lived moment of celebration. Both couples hugged each other. Immediately their attention turned towards the flood waters across the paddocks. There was still a family out there in the murky darkness of the night.
Geoff Stephens took control of the situation. He organised for Maureen to stand in the middle of the flooding road. Her job was not allow any motorists through the water. Armed with a powerful torch, she was to turn back any vehicle attempting to drive through the water. She would also ask all motorists to get help for the Nazzaris.
Barry Marshall, 46 a big, jovial and friendly man was out in the night feeding hay to his cattle which he had mustered onto high ground out of harms way. In the distance he could hear the roar of the flooding Thompson River and from the noise it made it gave him a good idea of how quickly the water level was rising. Marshall was a savvy farmer with years of experience on the land, much respected and liked by his peers. Unbeknown to a seasoned farmer like Marshall the flooding waters were rising much quicker than he or anyone could have anticipated. It had been a hard, long day for Barry and he was tired. All he wanted to do was finish feeding his cows, get out of the cold and wet night and enjoy his evening meal. “Nearly all done”, he thought to himself as he threw out the last bale of hay to a waiting cow.
Barry’s wife Wendy was busy putting the finishing touches to the roast beef and vegetables. The smell of the roast cooking wafted into the lounge room where son Wayne 26, was hungrily sitting in front of the TV watching the football replay from the previous week. The house was warm and inviting and it’s lights shone like a beacon out into the miserable night. It was the only house around for miles. The peace inside the house was suddenly disturbed by the sound of someone trying to break down the front door. Huffing and puffing, a distressed and shaken Geoff Stephens dripping wet and looking like an escaped prisoner from the nearby Sale prison stood there blabbering. “There’s a family out there somewhere in the middle of your flooded paddock that have probably drowned”, he finally manager to stutter out breathlessly.
Wayne Marshall’s hunger suddenly dissipated as he jumped into his gumboots and grabbed the tractor keys on the way to the shed where it was housed . Wayne too, like his father was of a big build and was as strong as an ox. The hard work on the farm kept him fit. As he rushed out into the night Wendy grabbed the UHF radio and contacted Barry telling him that Wayne was on his way to pick him up to go and look for the stranded family.
Soon Barry and Wayne were on their way into the water, but this small tractor could only go so far. The water was just too deep for its size and the tractor was way out of its depth. They turned around and drove back to the shed and jumped into the biggest tractor they owned and once again headed out into the night . Even with the big tractor, the brute strength of Mother Nature was no match. They pulled up within fifty metres of what looked like a partly submerged car. Switching on the powerful tractor spotlights, they could see people standing on the roof of the car. The figures were Brian and Pam Nazzari, each clutching a child.
Inside the insulated warm tractor cabin Barry and Wayne could see that the family was in real trouble and wondered how much longer they could hold on or would the current sweep the car further down away from them. There was no time to lose. They also knew that a rescue attempt would put their own lives in danger. The UHF radio was crackly and worked intermittently, but enough to allow the Marshall’s to give Wendy updates on the situation to update the police, which also provided the men with some comfort. By this time the police had also arrived but in this precarious situation could not do much except wave torches encouragingly towards the floundering family stuck on the car roof as a reassurance that help was on its way.
The Marshalls’ at fifty metres from the car decided to line up their tractor downstream from the stranded family’ car in the hope that if anyone was swept away from the car they would float towards them in the tractor. One thing they were certain of was that the Nazzari’s wouldn’t be able to hold on for much longer. They tried calling out shouts of encouragement, but the roar of the water made it impossible for sound to travel any more than a few metres. They watched in desperation as the fast moving water edged the car closer and closer to towards them.
As the strong current swept the Nazzari station wagon off the road instant panic overcame them. They knew they were in serious trouble. Being city folk, they were very unfamiliar in their new country environment. To Pam the slow motion sensation of the events unfolding before her seemed surreal. She wondered if she was just dreaming, having a nightmare. But the sting of the night brought home to her that this was the real thing. She started to feel the icy water begin to numb her toes and feet and slowly numbing her legs as the car began to fill with water. She heard Brian’s anguished shouts for her to grab hold of Korine and to hang on to her. Brian’s arm moved around till he found Samone and he grabbed her around the waist. Somehow holding onto a girl each, with adrenaline pumping, they managed to climb out of the car and onto the roof. Luckily for them their station wagon was equipped with a roof rack which allowed them to wedge their feet under the bar of the roof rack for support.
The rain was beating down on the family perched on the roof of the car. Pam began to sob uncontrollably and shouted out to Brian that she’d had enough and was going to throw in the towel, let go and just let the current take her away. Then she looked down at Korine desperately clinging to her and admonished herself for being so selfish thinking how could she just let go and let her daughter die. She hugged Korine harder to herself, her tears mixing with the rain washing her face as she kissed her sobbing little girl.
It was seven o’clock and the night pitch black, but for Brian and Pam time stood still and meant nothing. They didn’t care what the time was, it made no difference in their situation. They couldn’t see into the water but they could feel the bits of debris carried by the swirling water strike their legs. The bigger bits of debris cut into their legs, but they were numbed to feel any pain that the cuts and abrasions caused. Their intent was on getting themselves and their girls to safety.
Into the darkness they could see in the distance the outline of a tractor illuminated by its cabin lights slowly moving towards them. Further along someone was waving torches. This lifted their spirits and a flame of hope buoyed their spirits.
Then another wave of despair, fear and panic washed over Pam again. Again she broke down and wept bitterly. She was petrified in this unfamiliar hostile environment, physically and emotionally drained, convinced this time that help was never going to arrive in time. Looking down and seeing the innocent and trusting faces of her two little girls jolted her back to reality strengthening her resolve to save her family at all cost. Her inner maternal protective nature had kicked in.
The water was slowly creeping up again. It was cold and hypothermia was starting to set in. The wind was creating waves of water that made splashing sounds as they flapped in the darkness against the car. It was a frightening situation with an uncertain outcome. Now it was up to their waists. The time was nine thirty and a strong cold wind began to blow. Pam’s skin was turning blue and there were signs of hypothermia beginning to show.
Brian too was starting to have his own doubts. He was aware that his family looked to him for guidance, leadership and protection. This was their great time of need and was he going to let them down? He could see that neither of them was capable to hold on much longer. He turned his gaze to Pam. She looked terrible. He remembered there was a blanket in the car. He eased himself down the side of the car and with his free hand, holding Korine with his other hand and felt inside the car until his hand touched the blanket. He wrapped the blanket around Pam and even though it was wet, it still helped to protect her against the cold wind.
It was about ten thirty now and all hope seemed lost. Reality told Brian that it wouldn’t be long and he wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer. He kept this to himself because he knew that if he’d said anything to Pam, she would have just let go immediately. Brian cherished every precious second that he hung on for. The next second might just bring a rescue. He could see that soon they would be swallowed up by the elements, claimed by a raging kilometre wide unforgiving Thompson River which had 30 cm waves flapping against their car.
Suddenly their trailer which was still attached to the car was upended by the strong current which in turn twisted the tow bar and tipped the car over throwing all of four of them into the water. The forward planning by the Marshalls initially of parking the tractor downstream was about to pay off.
Wayne Marshall jumped out of the tractor cabin and into the swift flowing cold water, one hand firmly gripping onto the tractor as Brian, Pam and the girls floated towards him. First he grabbed Brian and pushed him towards the waiting arms of his father who hauled him into the tractor cabin. He did the same with Pam and soon all four were rescued and safely inside the cabin. Finally, Wayne jumped in and closed the door shut. Brian and Pam hugged the Marshalls as grateful tears streamed down their faces.
Even the big tractor with six on board found the going tough. A tow truck was needed to pull the tractor with all on board inside the cabin to a safe distance well away from the water and back onto high ground where two ambulances were waiting to take all six to the Heyfield Bush Nursing Hospital.
Months after the floods had subsided and life returned back to normal for this farming community, the Marshalls were regarded by all as heroes. Barry and Wayne reluctantly maintained that they only did what was necessary and that anybody else would have done the same.
The tractor company arranged for a photoshoot of the rescued Nazzaris with the Marshalls standing in front of the company’s brand tractor. It was used in advertising to promote the tractor. Each person was presented with a framed colour photo to mark the occasion. Everyone shook hands, said goodbye and in typical country fashion, life went back to normal.
He wasn’t able to contact many as this was a Saturday morning. Many had taken off for Maffra or Sale to do their weekly shop, whilst others were parking their cars around the steel perimeter of the Newry Football ground for the home game against the Stratford Swans. Saturday at the football was a regular meeting place for locals to catch up and socialise, enjoy a cuppa or a beer whilst watching their boys in yellow and blue battle against all comers and discuss solutions to the world’s problems. Those that Sinnott had managed to contact didn’t show too much concern and told him reassuringly that their families had been through previous floods many times and knew how to handle any situation and look after themselves. Sinnott was frustrated at their apathy as all of his data showed a dangerous situation was developing.
Towards evening the river levels were well down on dangerous levels and there seemed no need for panic or preparation to move stock, so the farmers settled into their homes in anticipation of a quiet night.
Bill and Eileen Unwin, a semi retired dairy farming couple in their mid sixties whose property borders the Thompson River at Tinamba listened to Des Sinnott’s message on their phone answering machine. Bill who knew the Gatekeeper at the small Cowwarr Weir rang him for an update on the situation. He was glad that Bill had called him because others that he spoke to didn’t take his warnings seriously. He told Bill that due to the heavy rainfall in the mountains, there was this massive wall of water heading downstream which would reach Tinamba during the night sometime. Immediately Bill began to ring stock carriers, finding that most of them were all booked up. Eventually he found one at nearby Heyfield who agreed to cart his entire stock of beef cattle to nearby higher ground. To speed up the process, Bill helped the carrier to load his cattle whilst in the meantime Eileen stayed in the house and began lifting their valuable possessions onto the kitchen table and high shelving. Once the cattle had left and they had done all that they could to protect their valuables, they planned to drive to their daughter’s place until the flood waters subsided. It was pitch black outside. The rain and the strong wind brought on a sense of uneasiness.
Nearby neighbours of the Unwins’, Geoff and Maureen Stephens were enjoying a hot meal in front of the TV whilst watching the news. A Flood Alert for their area surprised them as there appeared to be no flooding of the river behind their house. Geoff had shone a powerful torch towards the river bank and all appeared to be normal. To reassure themselves that they were safe they decided to take a drive around nearby roads to see for themselves if any had flooded. Geoff owned a powerful diesel four wheel drive vehicle. He was confident that he could safely cross a moderately flooded road without his engine stalling. Darkness had settled in. After a short drive to nearby Tinamba, he turned back for home at the roundabout near the store. He was puzzled at the seemingly unnecessary panic as there was not that much water covering the road. From the Roundabout he could see the cars parked at the front of the Tinamba Hotel which was full to capacity and the uncovered windows showed the place full of diners enjoying themselves; many celebrating the win Newry had in the football that afternoon. The steady rain continued, easing slightly its earlier intensity.
Brian and Pam Nazzari with two of their five children Korine 14, and Samone 13, were on their way home to Heyfield after visiting Pam’s family in Melbourne to discuss a joint business venture. Recently settled into their new home town of Heyfield, the plan was to set up a nursery and supply plants to Pam’s mother who owned a much bigger nursery in Melbourne. Heyfield is a small timber town located about 15 kilometres west of Tinamba. They were towing a large trailer behind their family station wagon. Both trailer and car were loaded with household items, plants and bits and pieces as they were still in the process of relocating into their new Heyfield home.
It had been a long tiring day. Korine and Samone slept in the back seat secured in their seat belts. Brian and Pam, also very weary after spending the whole afternoon loading and securing their trailer with a tarpaulin and loading up their station wagon were looking forward to getting home and out of this “dirty” weather. Brian hated driving in the rain, uncomfortable as his headlights reflected a shiny, slippery road surface. Sometimes his eyes focused on the moving white line in the middle of the road; other times at the gauges on his console to make sure everything was within limits. The radio was his company as Pam sat beside him falling in and out of sleep. With only thirty kilometres to home, Brian let out a sigh of frustration and swore under his breath to see his headlights illuminate a yellow and black barrier sign stretched across the road advising of a detour to Heyfield via Tinamba. Another sign in the middle of the road advising the detour was due to flooding over the road. He knew that the journey home would be extended for at least a further half an hour. Not many things in life stressed Brian, his cool affable nature and a belief that if you can’t change a situation, then you make the best of it helped him accept change and cope more easily. He continued along the Princes Highway and turned off at the Maffra turnoff at Nambrok just past the McGauran historical mansion into Denison Road.
The family didn’t pass or see any oncoming cars as they drove through the darkness along that straight stretch of road till it came to the bend at the Gibson Knox bridge. The rain was pelting down so hard on the car roof that it was impossible to hear anyone speak. A tired, lethargic Brian turned up the radio to help him stay awake.
As they crossed the Gibson and Knox bridge over the Thompson River at Tinamba with only twenty minutes from home, Brian planned to buy Take-Away in Heyfield have an early night and a long sleep in on Sunday morning. They were going to unpack the car and trailer in the morning.
Driving only a short distance past Gibson Knox bridge they stopped at water rippling over the road. Brian saw the headlights of a four wheel drive coming towards them and pulled over to the side of the road intending to ask the driver for advice on getting to Heyfield..
Geoff and Maureen Stephens saw the stationary station wagon pull over on the flooded road and drove up alongside them to see if they needed assistance. After a quick discussion of options, both drivers agreed it was best for Brian to turn around and follow Geoff back over the bridge the way they had just come from.
As they were about to drive off, they saw the headlights of another car approaching through the misty rain which had slightly eased off. In that car Bill and Eileen Unwin were on their way to their daughter’s place. The three cars joined up and there was a feeling of security and safety in numbers. Suddenly Geoff felt a pang of panic pass through his body and he shifted uneasily in his seat as a cold shiver ran down his spine. For a seasoned local, this didn’t feel good.
Soon the convoy of the three cars had crossed the bridge; It was only eight minutes ago that the Nazzari’s had driven along this road which had no water laying on it. Now there was no road visible, only a huge stretch of water creating a giant lake.
Geoff didn’t want to panic Maureen but he knew their situation was dire. They were stranded in this huge expanse of water not being able to see the outline of a road. He tightened his fingers around the steering wheel and could feel the strong pull of the water current pushing against the car. He knew that if his vehicle had been petrol driven then he would have been stalled in the middle of this lake of water. Which is precisely what happened to the Unwin and Nazzari vehicles following his. Geoff instructed Maureen to keep an eye on the two stranded cars behind them.
Suddenly Maureen let out a shriek and her hands shot up to cover her face. She was horrified to see both vehicles that were behind them suddenly taken by the strong current out into the middle of the dark abyss, their headlights bobbing up and down as they moved sideways further and further away from them. All three cars were now separated.
Floating through the swirling water in the strong current, Bill and Eileen Unwin knew that only a miracle could save their lives. Even if they were only half their age, they would still have been no match in this confrontation with Mother Nature. They were doing the right thing. They were going to safety to their daughter’s place. They didn’t deserve or ask to be the central characters in this nightmare. As their utility bobbed up and down like a cork it suddenly came to a stop as it hit and snagged itself against a fence post with the current pushing the car, still partly submerged onto slightly higher ground. Was this their chance to escape the danger? Hope immediately turned to despair because the outside pressure of the water was too great which prevented the door from being pushed open. This was their window of opportunity and they knew there was no time to waste. But the door would not budge Quick thinking and Bill knew that a decision had to be made immediately. It had to be the right one, as this was their only chance.
Bill quickly related his plan to Eileen, who agreed to go with his decision. With great courage and trepidation Bill grabbed hold of the window winder and wound the window all the way down. As the water rushed into the cabin Bill whispered a silent prayer, grabbed the door handle, turned it and forced the door open. He grabbed Eileen by the arm tightly and pulled her behind him as the couple scrambled out into water a metre and a half deep, finally wading onto the sanctuary of land. Their local knowledge was a key factor in their escape as both knew the area and in which way to walk to safety. They looked back into the darkness and wondered at what had become of Brian, Pam and their two little girls.
At the same time at a different location in the flood, Geoff and Maureen Stephens were also staring into the darkness wondering the same thing as the Unwins’ “Where are the Nazzaris ? They were beside themselves knowing that somewhere out in the darkness, in the rain a young family was in great danger if they were still alive. A consolation came their way when through the rain and wind the silhouette of two people clinging to each other approached. They were the figures of Bill and Eileen Unwin. The stark granite like features against the black sky of a sopping wet Bill and Eileen stagger towards them in knee deep water was a short lived moment of celebration. Both couples hugged each other. Immediately their attention turned towards the flood waters across the paddocks. There was still a family out there in the murky darkness of the night.
Geoff Stephens took control of the situation. He organised for Maureen to stand in the middle of the flooding road. Her job was not allow any motorists through the water. Armed with a powerful torch, she was to turn back any vehicle attempting to drive through the water. She would also ask all motorists to get help for the Nazzaris.
Barry Marshall, 46 a big, jovial and friendly man was out in the night feeding hay to his cattle which he had mustered onto high ground out of harms way. In the distance he could hear the roar of the flooding Thompson River and from the noise it made it gave him a good idea of how quickly the water level was rising. Marshall was a savvy farmer with years of experience on the land, much respected and liked by his peers. Unbeknown to a seasoned farmer like Marshall the flooding waters were rising much quicker than he or anyone could have anticipated. It had been a hard, long day for Barry and he was tired. All he wanted to do was finish feeding his cows, get out of the cold and wet night and enjoy his evening meal. “Nearly all done”, he thought to himself as he threw out the last bale of hay to a waiting cow.
Barry’s wife Wendy was busy putting the finishing touches to the roast beef and vegetables. The smell of the roast cooking wafted into the lounge room where son Wayne 26, was hungrily sitting in front of the TV watching the football replay from the previous week. The house was warm and inviting and it’s lights shone like a beacon out into the miserable night. It was the only house around for miles. The peace inside the house was suddenly disturbed by the sound of someone trying to break down the front door. Huffing and puffing, a distressed and shaken Geoff Stephens dripping wet and looking like an escaped prisoner from the nearby Sale prison stood there blabbering. “There’s a family out there somewhere in the middle of your flooded paddock that have probably drowned”, he finally manager to stutter out breathlessly.
Wayne Marshall’s hunger suddenly dissipated as he jumped into his gumboots and grabbed the tractor keys on the way to the shed where it was housed . Wayne too, like his father was of a big build and was as strong as an ox. The hard work on the farm kept him fit. As he rushed out into the night Wendy grabbed the UHF radio and contacted Barry telling him that Wayne was on his way to pick him up to go and look for the stranded family.
Soon Barry and Wayne were on their way into the water, but this small tractor could only go so far. The water was just too deep for its size and the tractor was way out of its depth. They turned around and drove back to the shed and jumped into the biggest tractor they owned and once again headed out into the night . Even with the big tractor, the brute strength of Mother Nature was no match. They pulled up within fifty metres of what looked like a partly submerged car. Switching on the powerful tractor spotlights, they could see people standing on the roof of the car. The figures were Brian and Pam Nazzari, each clutching a child.
Inside the insulated warm tractor cabin Barry and Wayne could see that the family was in real trouble and wondered how much longer they could hold on or would the current sweep the car further down away from them. There was no time to lose. They also knew that a rescue attempt would put their own lives in danger. The UHF radio was crackly and worked intermittently, but enough to allow the Marshall’s to give Wendy updates on the situation to update the police, which also provided the men with some comfort. By this time the police had also arrived but in this precarious situation could not do much except wave torches encouragingly towards the floundering family stuck on the car roof as a reassurance that help was on its way.
The Marshalls’ at fifty metres from the car decided to line up their tractor downstream from the stranded family’ car in the hope that if anyone was swept away from the car they would float towards them in the tractor. One thing they were certain of was that the Nazzari’s wouldn’t be able to hold on for much longer. They tried calling out shouts of encouragement, but the roar of the water made it impossible for sound to travel any more than a few metres. They watched in desperation as the fast moving water edged the car closer and closer to towards them.
As the strong current swept the Nazzari station wagon off the road instant panic overcame them. They knew they were in serious trouble. Being city folk, they were very unfamiliar in their new country environment. To Pam the slow motion sensation of the events unfolding before her seemed surreal. She wondered if she was just dreaming, having a nightmare. But the sting of the night brought home to her that this was the real thing. She started to feel the icy water begin to numb her toes and feet and slowly numbing her legs as the car began to fill with water. She heard Brian’s anguished shouts for her to grab hold of Korine and to hang on to her. Brian’s arm moved around till he found Samone and he grabbed her around the waist. Somehow holding onto a girl each, with adrenaline pumping, they managed to climb out of the car and onto the roof. Luckily for them their station wagon was equipped with a roof rack which allowed them to wedge their feet under the bar of the roof rack for support.
The rain was beating down on the family perched on the roof of the car. Pam began to sob uncontrollably and shouted out to Brian that she’d had enough and was going to throw in the towel, let go and just let the current take her away. Then she looked down at Korine desperately clinging to her and admonished herself for being so selfish thinking how could she just let go and let her daughter die. She hugged Korine harder to herself, her tears mixing with the rain washing her face as she kissed her sobbing little girl.
It was seven o’clock and the night pitch black, but for Brian and Pam time stood still and meant nothing. They didn’t care what the time was, it made no difference in their situation. They couldn’t see into the water but they could feel the bits of debris carried by the swirling water strike their legs. The bigger bits of debris cut into their legs, but they were numbed to feel any pain that the cuts and abrasions caused. Their intent was on getting themselves and their girls to safety.
Into the darkness they could see in the distance the outline of a tractor illuminated by its cabin lights slowly moving towards them. Further along someone was waving torches. This lifted their spirits and a flame of hope buoyed their spirits.
Then another wave of despair, fear and panic washed over Pam again. Again she broke down and wept bitterly. She was petrified in this unfamiliar hostile environment, physically and emotionally drained, convinced this time that help was never going to arrive in time. Looking down and seeing the innocent and trusting faces of her two little girls jolted her back to reality strengthening her resolve to save her family at all cost. Her inner maternal protective nature had kicked in.
The water was slowly creeping up again. It was cold and hypothermia was starting to set in. The wind was creating waves of water that made splashing sounds as they flapped in the darkness against the car. It was a frightening situation with an uncertain outcome. Now it was up to their waists. The time was nine thirty and a strong cold wind began to blow. Pam’s skin was turning blue and there were signs of hypothermia beginning to show.
Brian too was starting to have his own doubts. He was aware that his family looked to him for guidance, leadership and protection. This was their great time of need and was he going to let them down? He could see that neither of them was capable to hold on much longer. He turned his gaze to Pam. She looked terrible. He remembered there was a blanket in the car. He eased himself down the side of the car and with his free hand, holding Korine with his other hand and felt inside the car until his hand touched the blanket. He wrapped the blanket around Pam and even though it was wet, it still helped to protect her against the cold wind.
It was about ten thirty now and all hope seemed lost. Reality told Brian that it wouldn’t be long and he wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer. He kept this to himself because he knew that if he’d said anything to Pam, she would have just let go immediately. Brian cherished every precious second that he hung on for. The next second might just bring a rescue. He could see that soon they would be swallowed up by the elements, claimed by a raging kilometre wide unforgiving Thompson River which had 30 cm waves flapping against their car.
Suddenly their trailer which was still attached to the car was upended by the strong current which in turn twisted the tow bar and tipped the car over throwing all of four of them into the water. The forward planning by the Marshalls initially of parking the tractor downstream was about to pay off.
Wayne Marshall jumped out of the tractor cabin and into the swift flowing cold water, one hand firmly gripping onto the tractor as Brian, Pam and the girls floated towards him. First he grabbed Brian and pushed him towards the waiting arms of his father who hauled him into the tractor cabin. He did the same with Pam and soon all four were rescued and safely inside the cabin. Finally, Wayne jumped in and closed the door shut. Brian and Pam hugged the Marshalls as grateful tears streamed down their faces.
Even the big tractor with six on board found the going tough. A tow truck was needed to pull the tractor with all on board inside the cabin to a safe distance well away from the water and back onto high ground where two ambulances were waiting to take all six to the Heyfield Bush Nursing Hospital.
Months after the floods had subsided and life returned back to normal for this farming community, the Marshalls were regarded by all as heroes. Barry and Wayne reluctantly maintained that they only did what was necessary and that anybody else would have done the same.
The tractor company arranged for a photoshoot of the rescued Nazzaris with the Marshalls standing in front of the company’s brand tractor. It was used in advertising to promote the tractor. Each person was presented with a framed colour photo to mark the occasion. Everyone shook hands, said goodbye and in typical country fashion, life went back to normal.