Member for Riverina Michael McCormack
Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has stood up in Federal Parliament to praise and thank those defending Forbes in the face of a flooding Lachlan River.
“I want to say thanks this morning to all of those who helped willingly and voluntarily, doing what they could for their colleagues in the town and, indeed, for strangers who they may never have met before,” Mr McCormack said in a Constituency Statement.
“I have to say thank you also to all the volunteers who came from all parts of New South Wales to render assistance. They came to lend a hand to the people of Forbes.”
Mr McCormack witnessed Forbes residents banding together and the support of first responders and emergency volunteers when he visited the town twice last week.
“That town on the Lachlan River has, of course, been besieged by rising floodwaters. Hundreds of homes were under threat. Many of them had water running through them.”
Mr McCormack thanked the many businesses which have provided free coffee and free care packs, from the smallest coffee shop in town right up to Woolworths and Telstra.
“Fifty thousand sandbags were filled by the State Emergency Service. I also want to acknowledge the outstanding effort by the mayor, Phyllis Miller, and her Shire Council team. Phyllis Miller is one of the great mayors in my electorate, if not the State.”
Mr McCormack warned the flood crisis was not over yet.