AFTER THE FLOOD

http://northernbelles.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/may-31-remember-the-entrance-door-to-the-sanctuary-is-inside-you-rumi/

I AM looking for the big birds this morning but they are not there. The waters are still there a little but that’s splendid. Wetlands it is. Traffic is back on Coldstream Street. I rather liked the boats and the young newspaper boy delivering on his pushbike through axle deep water.

Time for some reflection.

	Its less than a month ago that the Quinns from ILNAM ESTATE WINERY were in the garage of LINDEN LEA helping us to load the ALPHA TRUCK for the move. Lachlan and Mark proved to be as good at packing as they are at being friends and that’s rather good.
The rain is back this morning. I seem to be suffering from post flood traumatic stressed syndrome.  Overreacting to the slightest drop of water. The empty cattle trucks are heading east this morning. I don’t know whether they are planning to bring the cattle back down onto this grazing land or not – as yet. Flocks of birds are flying over. Hundreds of water birds.
	Soon as we had moved in here, I was off to Armidale. This is part of our intention to embrace this area. The autumn trees were in full colour up there and the nights were cold. Armidale also has a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre which seems to work very effectively. I think that by the time people find themselves in that situation, they begin to take it very seriously indeed.  Cold and Detoxing are not easy companions.
	Fortunately, I was there for celebration – not for detoxification.
	Celebration did mean KidsWorld. That was an experience. It did keep the Kids busy for 2 1/2 hours.
	Driving back down the Mountain was somewhat more intimidating even than Kids World. At the time we didn’t know that we were driving into the prelude to the next flood. The roads were mist and rain obscured. It was cold and bleak. Within the week, the Dorrigo Mountain Road was again closed due to flooding and landslides. A few years back I drove through the Tallimoble Fires not knowing that just behind me the Highway was being closed and this was similar.
	We wrapped that trip up with lunch at URUNGA before I caught the train back to Grafton. URUNGA is our HOMETOWN. We eat at the cafe in the arcade and IT IS GOOD.

 

Technorati Tags: ulmarra,floods,coldstream street,north coast nsw. clarence river,mark quinn,lachlan quinn,ilnam estate winery,linden lea BILAMBIL NSW

ULMARRA

BROLGAS IN THE BACKYARD	Commercial Hotel beer garden Ulmarra

The floods have receded.2 black cows are munching on grass over the way where only last week the inland sea covered the paddocks.  The BIg Birds are about as well. I do not think I have ever seen a  brolga before but the grey birds on the water back and front of the house certainly seem to be brolgas. 8 of them. Almost as tall  as Kate and me. There is a pair of jabiru as well.

The clearing of the water has meant we could walk to the Village and take coffee at the COMEMRCIAL HOTEL. Open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch with dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. We joined the recovering flood people at the huge wooden table on the bank of the Clarence. The Chef was out of vegie patties following 3 days closed due to floodwaters but whipped us up a vegetable pasta as easy as and it was delicious. Main Course app $16. Coffee $4.

To date, my favourite shop has been the RATHGAR OP SHOP. It has opened in the opening hours advertised – floods or no floods and has an excellent array of goods.	I don’t think much of stores not being open without good reason or in erratic hours. Tony Bahles taught me that way back in the 7os when we had the WHITE ROSE TRADING COMPANY in URUNGA. He crossed flooded waters to get food in for customers and we opened – regardless. In the same way that Izzy does with Music now – he plays whether there is one person there or 1000. You just never know which of those possible 1000 is the one you were meant to play for, sell to or listen to.
Sandbags at the Commercial.	The town had been sandbagged and attempts had been made to evacuate. Ulmarrians sanely appear to have resisted those attempts. The sandbags are available near the Bushfire Brigade – I’m still fond of the Bushfire Brigade due to the helpful lass who was there and their allowing me to leave the Charade there for the duration. Many thanks to you !
The traffic on the Bendy Bridge has gone nuts with the Highway being closed all week and traffic diverted along SUMMERLAND WAY.	One catamaran sat at ULMARRA WHARF.

 

 

 

Flickr Tags: ULMARRA,CLARENCE RIVER,NEW SOUTH WALES,GRAFTON,FLOODS,COMMERCIAL HOTEL

JAM NIGHT AT THE EMPORIUM

Tomorrow night. MAY 28 – Jam night once more. WITH PIES.

 

Izzy is putting his name down	and Peter is in the kitchen. $3 entry goes to local charities.

LYNNE HAS LEFT THE BUILDI NG

The road is again a road. The cars are home again and I have been out all day. Glorious.

The Pacific Highway is still cut and we took the Centenary Drive High Road.	Our own street is once more a street.

THE WATERS HAVE BEGUN TO RECEDE

Now that looks hopeful doesn’t it? The water has cleared the 8th step back and front. The white marker on the front fence is cleared and many water birds are finding dry-ish spots to rest awhile. Over the road, the working man took a moment to choose between boat and truck. Boat still won – but I do believe the waters are receding.

 

I am not sure it is WATER remaining under my house. It looks sinister.  Scrubby tells us his lady is stuck in Yamba and Jenny reports the same of her daughter. Today helicopters have been passing over low all day with big bales of what I presume to be hay or somesuch.

Late afternoon and the road is reappearing at the front. 

Flickr Tags: floods,ulmarra,clarence

A softness of light is on the  countryside and a quietness with very little traffic about.  Izzy rang Andrew down at the shops and he says the Charade is fine parked out front. Perhaps tomorrow I shall be able to leave the house – albeit with a reluctance to re-enter “ the world out there”.

DAY 6

The water is still up and had risen during the night. A young man passing in a boat has informed me that the Coldstream is flowing. That appears to be a very good thing. I am weary of looking down our tumbledown steps into black and slow rising waters.

I am however, still delighted to be sitting at the attic window watching boats on the street and a vast lake before me.

	Its been a funny way to arrive in a community and to become familiar with it. It eliminated many of the tentative introductory “getting to know yous”.  An old fella bagging sandbags the night we got the cars out told me that the waters would be a couple of days coming up behind here and he has been right.
	Today Izzy has walked out along Coldstream to Ulmarra, taken the Charade and checked the Starwagon at Swan Creek and gone via Centenary Drive into Grafton for supplies. We have been very lucky. Power and Phones stayed on. Water didn’t reach hoiuse itself and the cars are OK. He has exchanged numbers with the  lady in the house at Swan Creek. Decent people about.
	Its only a week and a half back that we were loading the Alpha Truck and farewelling 4 years of Bilambil life – Alpha was a bargain at $150 for 2 full days. If you are in Coolangatta, I recommend them to you. Cars and trucks. Mega Helpful and great vehicle.
	Then I headed up to Armidale with Kati B. It is cold in Armidale but we were gathered en famille and celebrating so we had a splendid time. I guess I am having a splendid time even now, looking out the dressing room windows on WATER. WATER. WATER.
	Today, Izzy went to town. A few hours later I looked out the window and there he was – returning ! He had bags of shopping and had been picked up by another neighbour. Good Place, Ulmarra.
	We have boxes still to unpack but being rained in for a week has driven us to home work which would have otherwise have been put aside while we adventured.
	Armidale included breakfasts at MacDonalds and Hungry  Jacks. Kati B is 30 years old but has  maintained her appreciation of playgrounds. Hungry Jacks was an agreeable surprise in a family pledged to never allow HJ’s food past their lips. Due to larger kids in Maccas for the Poppy’s birthday brekkie, we had abandoned the playground and dared to try HUNGRY JACKS. Noone told us how good it was. Great Service and mega fun.
	While I was in Armidale, Izzy had been trying out Ulmarrian Life and LIKING it. Sunday he had been to live music at Wide River Cafe further down Coldstream. We took a walk on the Tuesday morning, planning our week and weekend. Sighted this fine sign down near the river. Took coffee and cake at Wide River Cafe and generally relaxed – not knowing what was ahead.
	The MOB from Armidale are bringing a lawnmower. Looks like we won’t be needing it for a little while.
	We were gone under way before the rest of the street and town. I guess I thought this was about as bad as it would get.

ULMARRA NOW AND THEN.

The first mention I have found of ULMARRA and FLOODS in the same newspaper articles is the one below from 1859.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3720740

The Moreton Bay Courier Wednesday 16 February 1859,

Most of the land put up for sale was very low and swampy, and at a considerable distance back from the river, with no high land to retreat to in case of floods ; from this cause the biddings were very languid, and two thirds of the lots were passed by, few of which are suitable for selection.

In 1860, Gentlemen were visiting Ulmarra with plans to join this area with QUEENSLAND. That would have been a very good thing for Queensland, so it would.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3717818

The Moreton Bay Courier

Thursday 27 September 1860

___________________________________________

The Moreton Bay Courier Tuesday 2 October 1860.

CLARENCE RIVER.-The Clarence and Richmond Examiner of the 18th. instant, speaking of the Clarence River gold-fields, says that the Upper Tooloom seems at present to be the favourite spot. All the diggers on the spot allow that there is plenty of gold, and that even the settlement itself is one large patch, the whole of which would pay for washing. For about £200 water could be easily brought, which would give employment to a thousand diggers. A company formed for that purpose would soon realise a fortune. The impression seems to be that, considering the area worked, this field is one of the richest in the colony.

Parties of four and five wash out 1000 ozs. in three months. There are about 150 diggers at work hore, some of whom have been very successful; one party netting each man £1500 in three months ; and another party 1000 ounces in four months, and other parties of five 1000 ounces to 1500 ounces in six months. Lower Tooloom is worked by about 100 diggers, most parties doing well. Elden’s claim turns out 1 lb. of gold per day. Two stores and one public house appear to be doing well. Joe’s Gully is almost deserted in consequence of the wet, but that large deposits of gold yet remain is quite certain ; and probably the large nugget sold for £600 is but a sample of what yet remains. At Ulmarra the crops of wheat arc progressing favourably. The brush ground wheat, though presenting a more luxuriant appearance than the forest land, is not likely to yield such a good crop. The land sown with wheat, in the parish of Ulmarra alone, is not less than 600 acres. Two years since the land was a forest, in all the uncultivated wildness of nature.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article834204

The South Australian Advertiser

Tuesday 21 May 1861

The families brought in from the low lands have been provided with shelter in an empty house, kindly placed at their disposal by Mr. F. Timlin, and by the assistance of other residents. It is almost unnecessary to add that the torrent of water down the river was sweeping cattle, corn, and everything in its course.

The loss to the settlers on the river and its environs, consequent upon this second flood, must be very great ; occasioning, among the poorer classes, such distress and loss as months of hard toil will not replace.

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1281717

The Brisbane Courier

Wednesday 8 November 1865

A TRIP UP THE CLARENCE BY THE REV DR LANG.

From the stoppage of the works at the Clarence breakwater; while the vote for them is still unexhausted, as well as from what I afterwards saw, both on the river and in the district generally, I would suggest that this portion of the territory should be designated, by way of short title, The Neglected District.

Thc next stopping place on the river is Ulmarra, about four miles from Grafton. This is a regular agricultural and maize growing settlement, of which the population has been gradually increasing, principally by arrivals from the Hunter and the Manning rivers, during the five years that have elapsed since my last visit to these regions. We got up to tho Company’s wharf, at Grafton, about half-past 7 p.m. of the 12th, it being then quite dark.

FLOODS DAY 5 ?

Woke to a sunny day. and blue skies. AND a LAKE of our very own. I did want a house right on the river and I have it – for this week anyways.

	Its been a most interesting week. They call it a weather event. A long event says I. The road is today a waterway. The hairy dog enjoyed it and so do the Kids. i continue listening to ABC Radio and the bizarre reporting of this Event.  ABC Mid North Coast Radio isn’t specially bizarre but Officialdom remains ODD in the extreme.
	I am putting Photos up for the MOB in Armidale who were coming down this weekend. They didn’t come ! Deterred by Water and landslides –so it seems. Kati B and IMM had offered to do a rescue mission but they are also flooded in. Bertha, our fridge, is now defunct. She is floating under the house where we had left her till we had muscle enough to bring her up the steps – so now we do not have a functioning fridge. She is tied to one of the Stilts under the House.
	Its dark now. That seems to be when I sit still and give up for the night. The water is rising again. Each day has its own flavour and this one had kayaks, boats and walkers as well as some 4WDs passing by on Coldstream Street.
	I haven’t seen one official person or vehicle all day despite the seeming efficiency imaged on the radio. We are OK here but I am not sure what help we would have had had we not been. No matter. Its dark now. The water rises seepingly and we have power and warmth and an attic. We have watched the community at play today and I like that.
	We have internet too. I also like that, with Facebook People contacting us and family in touch and able to send images to them. Iz has a Coca Cola Can over his mobile net modem. IMM said that Bello people were trying it so Iz does it too. We knew we would have slow net here due to it being GPRS.
	I think the Village gathered at the Local Pub but I am short and the water is deep so I wasn’t able to wade out today. The lads were out on quad bikes. I am impressed by the bikes. They just ploughed through the waters undeterred.
	This is the Blue Bear which was washed down the Road from Under the House and rescued by Doug who lives next door. Bravo Blue Bear! A narrow escape.
Sunset over the floods. Looking west towards the Highway and Village.	Family with baby in Mother’s arms.
2 shots of hair in progress.	Flood Shocked Whitening of the Hair.

FLOODS DAY 3 or is it DAY 4 ?

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1257850 (From the Clarence and Richmond Examiner, April 5. 1864) Rain, rain, nothing but rain, rendering the noble and useful Clarence into a most formidable sheet of water-overflowing its boundaries, and converting immense areas of land into large lagoons, destroying the crops and sweeping all before it.  Such has been the Clarence River of late.
INTO another day. I woke with the yard water free. Now, as the day passes, it comes  at us from the South and has just crossed the road. An inland sea of water.
Thank God for next door neighbours and local villagers, once again. I watch their faces and their actions.  They tell us about 2001 and I tell them about Bellingen and Iz watches and learns. Water has been one of his “things” he tells me. Today he is the one down there in cold water and getting provisions in.  He has a large stick to flick off the power if the water rises that high.	Iz replaced the letterbox on the fence post. No mail today due to its being Saturday. Yesterday a wee lad on a pushbike delivered the papers. Undeterred was he. After the Iz fixed the letterbox which we found underwater yesterday, he took a walk down to the Village to see what was happening and to check on the Charade.
The house above is just over the road and to the left. Morning of May 23 2009.	Morning May 23 2009.
	5.08pm. Dark and flooded. Fire Brigade went by a moment ago in the big truck. The road is under and it is eerily silent. Piles of cow dung are floating by.  The power has stayed on and there are lights , dim spots of light here and there in the houses which are standing in this inland sea.
Should have bought the gumboots at Bunnings. Or even better the Classy Gumboots in South Grafton.	The cars are still in their parking places at Swan Creek and at the Firies. The levee didn’t breach during last  night but now the water rises silently and steadily across the paddocks. I have found records of other floods in the NATIONAL DIGITISED NEWSPAPERS of the NLA.  See Below. Old Floods from other times.  Kati B is again trapped in at Valery and one elderly gentleman was found dead in his submerged car at Raleigh.
7.19pm Dark now with waters lapping. They don’t seem to have risen much since dark. Still lapping 8 steps down – back and front.  Winds have risen and it is eerie. We thought for a moment we would be sleeping and retreating to the Attic.
These are the front steps earlier in the day. The water is a lot dirtier now.
Wonder whether there will be live Music at the Wide River Cafe in Ulmarra tomorrow?

FROM RTA NSW.

OVERTOPPING THE LEVEE AT KEMPSEY 12.04 PM SATURDAY

Started at 22/05/09 6:55am

UPDATED 10:39am

PACIFIC HIGHWAY – VARIOUS LOCATIONS

ADVERSE WEATHER – FLOODING

Initial report

Lanes closed:
Both directions – All

RTA advice:
Exercise caution

Other advice:
The highway is closed between Ballina and Grafton and at Frederickton, north of Kempsey.

 

Started at 21/05/09 10:36am

UPDATED 7:18am

DORRIGO – WATERFALL WAY at DORRIGO MOUNTAIN

ADVERSE WEATHER – FLOODING

Initial report

Lanes closed:
Both directions – All

RTA advice:
Avoid the area, Use alternative route

Other advice:
The road is currently closed between Bellingen and Raleigh. There is no access from the Pacific Highway.

Started at 21/05/09 6:35pm

UPDATED 6:48pm

LAWRENCE – ULMARRA AND BLUFF POINT FERRIES

ADVERSE WEATHER – HEAVY RAIN

Confirmed

Lanes closed:
Both directions – All

Impact:
Significant

RTA advice:
Use alternative route

____________________________________

OLD FLOODS.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1257850

The Brisbane Courier Wednesday 13 April 1864,

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3162000

Courier (Brisbane, Qld.) Thursday 12 March 1863,

THE" FLOODS- IN-THE- CLARENCE

AND RICHMOND DISTRICTS.

Tub Clarence and Richmond Examiner,

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3463181

FLOODS IN THE CLARENCE AND RICHMOND. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) January 28.

The Brisbane Courier Wednesday 9 February 1887, page 6

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3462763

The Brisbane Courier Saturday 29 January 1887

Further news from Grafton respecting the  
floods in the Clarence River is to the effect that several houses were swept away at Ulmarra
and Copmanhurst.

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3515295

The Brisbane Courier Tuesday 18 March 1890

The Presbyterian Church at Ulmarra was shifted bodily and placed in an unsafe condition, necessitating rebuilding

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3561450

The Brisbane Courier Friday 16 June 1893

On Saturday a resident of
Ulmarra lost seventeen head of fat cattle by one stroke of lightning.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4554172

Northern Territory Times Friday 24 February 1928

Ulmarra
A third flood in the Clarence within a
week occurred and our huge pastoral
and agricultural lands again covered
by floodwaters. Boats under police
supervision and manned by voluntary
crews have been out daily removing
families from flooded homes and
taking food to people who are isolated.

 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3913082

RECURRING FLOODS. THIRD IN CLARENCE RIVER. Rescue Work in Boats. ULMARRA.

Argus (Melbourne, Vic.) Friday 24 February 1928, page 16. News 458 words

The Canberra Times Wednesday 31 March 1954

MACLEAN, Tuesday. I

"Floods can be prevented on
the Clarence River," Federal
Minister for Health, Sir Earle
Page, said to-day.

Sir Earle was addressing a
meeting of the Clarence Valley

women’s flood-control committee.

He said a dam could be built
at the Clarence Gorge to hold
any flood likely to sweep down
the river. ‘

"The dam proposed by experts is a dual purpose dam,"
Sir Earle told the meeting.

It would prevent floods, and
the water stored in it could be
used for power production.

The continual run of water down the river would tend to keep the channel clear and lessen dredging operations.

"With the completion of the northern breakwater and other port works at Iluka, expert opinion is that many of the present shallows will be permanently deepened," he said.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2785972

The Canberra Times Tuesday 27 June 1950,

Frederick Ayres, 35, -was drowned at Ulmarra

_______________________________________

BELOW: 1948.

___________________________________________

MAJOR FLOOD WARNING
FOR CLARENCE RIVER

Issued at 4:05 PM on Saturday the 23rd of May 2009
Flood Warning Number: 15

The Clarence River at Grafton peaked near 7.4 metres around 5:30 am this morning
[23/05/09] with major flooding. The Clarence River at Ulmarra peaked near 5.8
metres around 10:30 am [23/06/09].  Major flood peaks will occur at Maclean
later today.  

Predicted River Heights/Flows:

Maclean   - peak near 3.3 metres around 7:30 pm (23/05/09) with
major flooding coinciding with the high tide.

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500.
For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
 

Weather Forecast:

For the latest weather forecast see www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw

Next Issue:

The next warning will be issued by 7:30 pm (23/05/09).

Latest River Heights:

Nymboida R at Nymboida            8.51m rising   03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Boyd R at Broadmeadows            4.72m falling  03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Clarence R at Tabulam             5.85m steady   03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Clarence R at Baryulgil           7.39m falling  03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Mann R at Jackadgery              7.76m falling  03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Clarence R at Lilydale            14.04m falling 03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Orara R at Glenreagh              9m falling     03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Clarence R at Grafton (Prince St) 7.24m falling  12:15 PM SAT 23/05/09
Clarence R at Ulmarra             5.68m falling  03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09
Clarence R at Maclean             3.04m steady   03:30 PM SAT 23/05/09

ANOTHER DAY

Just on dark we got the cars out. That meant one to Swan Creek and one in the yard of Ulmarra Bushfire Brigade. There have been high and low points today.	And the Tabus – to criticise our Volunteers. Now – I like Volunteers well enough – although I prefer Unofficial Locals – but I am not really delighted with today’s doings.
We called SES as instructed, concerned about evacuation when we couldn’t get the cars out. We were then informed that there was nothing they could do about CARS . Not much later the sirens  began on local radio and an evacuation order for Ulmarra,   Brushgrove and Grafton was  issued. We didn’t follow it for various reasons and I am glad I didn’t because I now hear on the radio that the Evacuees were sent to Ballina, which sounds good, but the Highway is CUT going north. Duh!  We didn’t do real well at all with SES today. I shan’t make much more comment but give me the local couple filling sandbags who explained the water dynamics of the area in detail for me, any day !	I rang the SES and the gentleman was pleasant. He said Evacuation was a matter of choice. That they had to put people’s lives above Cars, which I understood. However – I was not prepared to leave on those So we chatted to the neighbours who have lived here for 21 years. Get the vehicles out as soon as you can – said they! They told us some tales of other floods here and we listened  well. Tonight we sleep without our vehicles. We wait for the Midnight Levee overtop. A little fearfully and question the SES advice from an SES Woman who said “ she didn’t  know the Area” and who directed Izzy to go down the pub and ask the locals. Our thanks to the Locals and to the Fire Brigade Lady who spent time directing us to Swan Creek and filling us in on the details of the Area and its aqua eccentricities.  Were this Bello I would not have spent such a distressing day, its being far more familiar to me. I was better even in Tumbulgulm. The single biggest mistake I made today was listening to Officialdom.
Now at bedtime, the rain comes again, the waters are said to be coming down from the mountains, the cars are not with us and the yard is flooded. The doorknock Evacuation NEVER DID COME TO OUR ADDRESS, and we are going along with neighbours and other Ulmarrians. Looks like being a restless night as we wait to see whether the levee holds and whether the Charade survives in the carpark at the Firies where Scott told me to park it. We have the attic but don’t know how to turn off the power with the box accessible by standing  knee deep in water.  Timid we may be our own 1949 ways, but we are new to this area and a little fatigued after months of moving etc. I do believe I have had enough !

MORE FLOODS

449 millimetres of rain fell last night at Dorrigo last night.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales
RENEWAL
MAJOR FLOOD WARNING
FOR CLARENCE RIVER
Issued at 9:44 AM on Friday the 22nd of May 2009
Flood Warning Number: 6
Up to 330 millimetres of rain has fallen in the Clarence Valley during the past
2 days to 9 am today [22/05/09]. Very heavy rain has fallen over the central
valley with up to 112 millimetres being recorded in the 6 hours to 3 am
[22/05/09].
Rain has eased in the past 6 hours to 9 am [22/05/09], however
further heavy rainfall is forecasted over the next 12-24 hours which is expected
to produce further river level rises. The situation is being closely monitored.
At this stage it is not possible to predict the flood peak because of
uncertainty over how much more rain will fall.
Predicted River Heights/Flows:
Grafton – reach 7.8 metres around midnight(22/05/09) with major flooding
Ulmarra – reach 6.1 metres around 1 am (23/05/09) with major flooding
Maclean – reach 3.3 metres around 6 pm (23/05/09) with major flooding

FIRST WEEK IN ULMARRA

 

The adventure continues. Well then, we are moved in to Ulmarra and I have proceeded to Armidale for the birthday and back over the mountains to home and Rain!	I heard the water during the night and sure enough, the yard was a couple of feet under. That meant trouble for Bertha, the fridge, who was still underneath the house due to being too heavy to bring her up without extra muscle.
I am finding it difficult to remain chronological about the last week because I am focussed on FLOODS and rains. We moved my car into the ancient garage which seems a little higher than the side passage. I have the ABC Local Station on and calls are coming in from all over.	The attic is secure in its own way. WEATHER BUREAU But things is hectic. Things is very hectic. I cannot see our yard but I am listening to the radio and they say moderate flooding peaking at 11pm tonight. Moderate don’t mean MODERATE either.
Kati B is also flooded in down at Valery near Bello.  Scrubby up in Murwillumbah has been without power for many hours. Schools are all closed – today and tomorrow. From Tweed to Nambucca.	There is sandbagging in Kyogle and Water coming down from the Mountains. Rural Inundation – that’s what the radio is telling us. Get supplies in and prepare for tomorrow night – so they say.
DELAY NON ESSENTIAL TRAVEL.	That means you ! O Garbage Bin ! Where has the Red One gone to ?
The shed is a sieve and the car is in there.	Best take to my bed – and trust.

Flickr Tags: floods,ulmarra,north coast NSW. clarence river,bellinger river

ULMARRA

I don’t know a lot about ULMARRA as yet. With tomorrow seeing me resident, I shall soon be learning more about it.

I am checking out obscure links.

http://www.cathchurch.net/nsw/parish/Cowper.htm

http://familycompass.com/

http://www.broomshead.com/local.html

http://www.peacebus.com/CyanideWatch/061010CyanideWalk.html

http://cs.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=177259

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=242957&search=steamships&images=&c=&s=

http://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/cmst/cvc009/lp.asp?cat=246

http://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/cmst/cvc009/view_doc.asp?id=4322&cat=246

http://cemindex.arkangles.com/cemetery-inscriptions.php?id=361

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rwjau/photos.html

http://www.clarencetourism.com/attractions_heritagetrail.htm

http://www.members.westnet.com.au/randall.art/

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/meetings/Aus2003

http://www.flotilla-australia.com/crrsnco.htm

IMAGES OF ARMIDALE

Armidale as seen through my eyes and the MOB’s and Kati B’s, with some from Grandpa.

DORRIGO ROAD. MY OWN PERSONAL PHOBIA.	ARMIDALE SHOWGROUND
THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN	THE REGIONAL ARCHIVES WHEREIN DWELLS A DELIGHTFUL ARCHIVIST
HORSES IN SHOWGROUND	NEAR MACDONALDS PARK
VEGIES FOR SALE AT EBOR TURNOFF	HEADING BACK TO THE COAST
THE RENOWNED DUMARESQ DAM	IDEAL FOR PICNICS

JIM BELSHAW AND THE ROMANCE OF ARMIDALE.

http://newenglandaustralia.blogspot.com/2009/05/belshaws-world-selling-armidales.html

I am en route for Ulmarra and the Clarence tomorrow. In the Charade with the Computers. Ulmarra is an “historical river port” and Grafton retains many of its early buildings. I intend to do some Adventuring into Retrospectives. The Big River it is called.  THE Big River.  Friday I take the train to Urunga and then drive with my Girl, Kati B, up Dorrigo Mountain to Armidale to celebrate The Poppy’s 5th Birthday. Take a look at Jim Belshaw’s Blogs for other views of the New England. 

http://belshaw.blogspot.com/2009/05/north-coast-memories-ss-fitzroy.html

THE DAY BEFORE MOVING

THINGS I MIGHT POSSIBLY MISS	AND THINGS I MOST PROBABLY WILL NOT MISS.
	I will miss Scrubby Pete and Mark Quinn and days at ILNAM ESTATE WINERY.
	I could well miss my driveway. It, however, has been sprayed with roundup and covered with rocks to avoid bogging so I shan’t miss it as I once might have.
	I shall miss my Gentleman – the discerning owner who has been a true friend to me.
	I am unlikely to miss the Murwillumbah Community Centre which is grubby and neglected.
	I might miss the NSW/QLD border games and the crazed months of daylight saving.
	I do not think I will miss Friday Nights at Luffley Cafe. I do not know why I won’t but I don’t think I will.
	I think I will miss the elegancies and dignities of Main House Life.
	I won’t miss bagel making because we will actually have a kitchen and perhaps a stove and therefore be baking more. The Kidz gave Iz finances for a kitchen appliance so we will be a –cooking.
	I am NOT going to miss the BILAMBIL BLUES CLUB at all.

MAYORS AND THINGS

Read last week in the local Tweed papers about the Tweed mayor’s delight in the Planned development of Bay Street, Tweed Heads and her desire to see Tweed developed along the lines of KIAMA down South. Looks like she is in luck, because a former Mayor of Kiama, Neville Fredericks,  was sighted just this week in Murwillumbah with  what looked like the Board of the Satya Sai School dining at Luffley Cafe.

Carool, Kunghur, Tyalgum,Tweed Heads – they could all be in luck.

THE BLACK BEAR CAFE IN BELLINGEN

 

	I am moving South. I woke this morning and thought of the changes coming. Then the BLACK BEAR CAFE came to mind. Our local cafe in Ulmarra will be the MULBERRY COURT CAFE. That’s me in the Gazebo at Mulberry Court last year. I shall show some more images of Ulmarra later. This morning its the BLACK BEAR CAFE on my mind.
	Back to Bellingen. That’s app 100 kms south of Ulmarra. I married in Bellingen and my kids were born there. Years back, my daughter, Kati B, did her work experience at a wee cafe there. BOILING BILLY it was called. Last year we took Izzy there. Boiling Billy has now become the baby of Sophie and Dave. Kate worked with Sophie in BADDE MANNERZ in Glebe.
	The BOILING BILLY is now re-named THE BLACK BEAR. The morning thinking was that I shall be in range of BLACK BEAR visits. That’s the Church Street Cafe strip. My sister married Mark  at the Courthouse opposite back in the 1970s. I have many memories of CHURCH STREET. When Tony Bahles and I opened the WHITE ROSE TRADING COMPANY in Urunga early in the 1970s, THE GOOD FOOD SHOP opened in Bello and was in CHRUCH STREET till quite recently. The HIPPIES we were. I also note that the Re=Mains are playing at BELLO BOWLO on MAY 15 prior to a CANADIAN tour.
	That’s Sophie in the background clearing the table after an Izzy Meal.  Izzy is a specialist in eating out and mugoccino drinking.  Wish I had a menu to put up but that will have to wait till I am moved South. I shall look for a picture of the Bear itself. I have some hidden in my hard drive.
	There we are. THE BLACK BEAR.
	Next week I am expecting to be there.

 

 

• OTHER BELLO LINKS
• PIP WILSON BLOG
• http://coffsbug.blogspot.com/

PACKING

We are packing. That is enough said for one day.

INTERNALLY