Almost 11 months to the day of last year’s April superstorm, Dungog’s Alison Court residents have started moving back into their units.
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Eighteen of the 20 units were inundated by water on Tuesday, April 21 and one resident, Col Webb, died during the disaster.
Statewide Mutual denied Dungog Council’s claim for the storm-affected units so the organisation borrowed money to have them refurbished.
The contention was whether or not it was storm water or flood water.
Since the storm 17 residents have been living in temporary accommodation in rented houses or with family and friends.
But while the storm is still fresh in the mind of the residents, they are thrilled to be moving back home.
Sharon Brewer, who only moved into her unit 12 months before the storm, is grateful to again have a permanent home.
“I haven’t had it as hard as some of the others, but it still wasn’t ideal,” she said.
“I stayed with my mother-in-law Delma Bennett and other family and friends for 10 months.
“The other two were spent overseas with my brother who paid my return airfare to England and back.
“I tried to share myself around so no-one would get sick of me.”
Sharon remembers that fateful day when she could hear the toilet gurgling and then voices outside.
She opened her front door to be greeted by rising water.
“It came halfway up my door, and while I didn’t have to be rescued like some of the others, I still lost pretty much everything inside.
“Like everyone else I just didn’t comprehend it could come that high. I am so pleased I managed to get out and that dad [Doug Weare] and [husband] Bob weren’t here too.”
Doug, who lived in unit next door to Sharon, died in August 2014 and her husband Bob passed away in Lara Aged Care nursing home barely a month after the super storm.
Charlton Christian School in Newcastle fundraised and gave Sharon $8000 which she spent on buying a new car.
“My old one stop working two days after Bob died and I just didn’t know how I was going to get around,” she said.
“And people would stop me in the street and give me money and there was the government grant too which helped me out.
“I was able to buy a new electric bed to replace the one which was damaged and a new fridge.
“A lot of furniture was given to me which has been in storage so I really a lot better off than some people.
“My old unit is brand new again and it looks and smells beautiful.
“I’m very happy.”
The top 12 units have been refurbished but the future of the bottom six units will depend on the risk of future flooding with Dungog Council seeking advice on the risk factors.
