Mid-North Coast Floods: Clubs Step Up as Evacuation Centres

From Taree to Manning Point, clubs have transformed into emergency evacuation centres, offering shelter, food and vital support to hundreds of displaced residents.

Of the 15 official evacuation centres operating at the time of writing,13 are clubs — Dungog RSL Club, Club Gloucester, Club Taree, Manning Point Bowling Club, Wingham RSL, Bulahdelah Golf Club, Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club, Kempsey Showground, Panthers Port Macquarie, C.ex Coffs Harbour, Sawtell RSL Club, Nambucca RSL Club and Old Bar Bowling Club.

Club Taree has hosted up to 1200 evacuees over the past few days, despite the Club’s own staff being affected by the disaster.

“We’re struggling, but we’re getting through,” says Club Taree CEO Paul Allan. 

“Right now, we’ve got 250 people on site — that’s actually the lowest it’s been. It’s been a lot to manage, but we’ve done this before. We know what to do.”

Some club teams are operating at just 20 per cent capacity due to road closures and evacuations in outlying areas impacting staff being able to get to work. 

Club Taree has been working around the clock. Staff have gone beyond their usual duties, helping elderly residents from nursing homes, delivering medication and transporting people to hospitals.

“We’re out there writing care plans, picking people up off the streets, getting them to hospitals and finding their mental health medication. And on top of that — feeding, clothing, cleaning and finding bedding for evacuees,” Paul says. 

“It’s just what we do.”

The Club’s facilities have now been completely dedicated to the emergency response, shutting its doors to regular operations to focus solely on helping evacuees.

“We shut the Club today [Wednesday morning] just to concentrate on evacuation,” Allan says. 

“We’ve got the worst flood on record. It’s crazy — 70 per cent of our golf course is gone. The town is heartbroken. There’s a lot of sadness and anger, but anger doesn’t help anything. We just have to keep moving.”

The area has received what Allan described as “half a metre of rain in two days,” and more is expected as water flows down from the surrounding mountains.

“Our river system splits off in two directions — it just spreads everything even further. We’re still waiting to see what comes next,” he added.

Despite many staff losing homes and vehicles to floodwaters, they’ve continued to show up and help, forming teams focused on logistics, operations and community support.

“They’ve still turned up to help at the evacuation centre,” Allan says. 

“We’ve split into three teams — logistics, operations and gophers… Everyone is safe and in good spirits, and we make sure everyone feels comfortable and welcome.”

Just over 30 kilometres away from Club Taree, Manning Point Bowling Club is also operating as an emergency evacuation centre with limited staff and resources, but receiving strong support from volunteers and locals.

Secretary Manager Karen May O’Donnell says the small club has shown immense heart and resilience in the face of disaster.

“We’ve got one family left to place in accommodation,” Karen says of the Club’s efforts to find stranded locals somewhere to stay. 

“Everyone else has found refuge in caravans or nearby homes. The community’s come together — it’s been incredible to see.”

The Club was officially activated as an emergency evacuation centre at 7:00am on Tuesday and immediately stopped its normal operations to focus on helping those displaced by the floods. 

Despite limited resources, the team has coordinated hot meals, essential medication and emotional support for those affected.

“This is worse than 2021,” Karen says. 

“People are exhausted, hungry and overwhelmed. But we’re doing everything we can.”

Manning Point Bowling Club itself sits on one of three elevated points in the area, keeping the Club safe from the worst of the flooding. 

“We’re about three metres above the levee, but the water is over it now,” Karen says.

The Club has been supplying at least one hot meal a day and has recently secured funding to cover food costs, easing the burden on local evacuees.

Despite personal loss and rising floodwaters, the team have remained focused on helping others. 

“We’re just doing what needs to be done,” Karen says. 

“It’s not about us. It’s about making sure everyone is safe.”

To hear Club Taree CEO, Paul Allan, provide updates on the situation in the region with 2GB Afternoons Host Clinton Maynard, click here.