Disaster Relief Australia Deploys Again

Last year, ClubsNSW made it possible for Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) to deploy more than 886 volunteers on two operations to communities devastated by floods in NSW.

In November last year, over 1000 residents in the regional NSW town of Forbes were evacuated to higher ground in preparation for its worst flood in 70 years. Over 500 homes and businesses were inundated, with more than 150 people needing to be rescued from the roof of their homes.

As the flood waters began to recede, the community started the long clean-up and again DRA, clubs and community came together. On 18 January 2023, the first of DRA’s Disaster Relief Teams arrived in Forbes, setting up their base of operations at the Forbes Showground.

“It is thanks to you, your boards, staff and members, that Disaster Relief Australia are able to deploy teams to clean up, muck-out, repair and clear the debris created by the worst floods ever seen in the Forbes, Parkes and Cabonne communities,” DRA CEO Geoff Evans said.  

“Together, we have changed the lives of so many who lost everything and put them firmly on the road to recovery.”

Named Operation Simmonds in honour of local brothers Corporal Edley E Simmonds and Private James M Simmonds, DRA volunteers have been mucking out and gutting flood-affected properties, removing both furniture and damaged wall linings, taking remedial clean-up measures, managing and removing debris, overseeing chainsaw operations and fence line repairs, and conducting aerial damage assessments. The Simmonds brothers of the 2/31^st Australian Infantry Battalion, were killed in action together on 10 November 1942 and today family of the Simmonds brothers still live in Forbes.
In the past year, clubs across NSW have donated more than $720,000 towards DRA’s work assisting the community.

For Operation Simmonds, so far DRA has deployed 95 volunteers, working over 6339 volunteer hours, completing 66 work orders, and saving $364,343 in costs to the community.*

“While our volunteers are our greatest assets, we are under no illusion that without the ongoing and valued support of ClubsNSW, we really could not do what we do. Thank you.”

DRA are always happy to welcome new volunteers to join their tribe, so if you want to roll up your sleeves, muck in and help communities impacted by disasters, just like those around Forbes, then visit disasterreliefaus.org to find out more.

^{*Figures current as of 17 February 2023.}