General News
26 March, 2022
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"With recent downpours in a number of local areas, we are reminded of that old adage that history repeats itself."
Submitted by Peter Ralph, Sec. RAHS
With recent downpours in a number of local areas, we are reminded of that old adage that history repeats itself when we look back at early December 1930. Then, the “Argus” of the 12th described the 11 inch deluge at Kenmare as “The Greatest Storm in the History of the District”.
The “Argus” went on to describe crops with only the ears showing above the water in paddocks, and “Mr. J. McMillan’s farm 4 miles north of Kenmare where 11 inches 42 points (about 290ml) were recorded” and the Holmes property measuring 10 inches and 60 points.
The water damage was widespread, and among the collection of photographs we hold from the donation of Ruth Cross, are shots of vast tracts of water across the Rainbow-Kenmare road 2 feet 6 inches deep in places, Mick Murphy’s farm at Wheatlands, and the Griffiths farms at Kenmare.
They were taken after the storm between December 12-19, and today’s gem shows Doris and Ruth Griffiths up to their knees in water gathering pie melons from a crab-hole in fallow. The horses, one in harness with the gig, wait patiently on the higher ground along a fence-line in the background. The collected melons are gathered on both sides of the “temporary dam”. Plenty of pies and jam that year perhaps?
Meanwhile Rainbow didn’t escape either. The “Argus” again: “On Friday night shortly before 9 o’clock rain fell in torrents, and in a few minutes the streets were flooded, channels overflowed and water spread over the roads. At the intersection of Taverner and Federal Streets pedestrians had to wade through 9 inches of water. The northern end of Taverner Street was submerged and a heavy flow of water found its way into Mr. Rogasch’s property.”
Outlet Creek was in a state of flood and at Pella Bridge the water was 5 feet deep, Netherby and Lorquon got 7 inches, Jeparit 6 inches and 59 points, Beulah 6 inches and Horsham 4 and three-quarters of an inch. Even as late as the next Tuesday, the Beulah mail contractor, Harry Rodda, had to bring the post to Rainbow on horseback.
Apart from the youngsters, we all recall the mid-January 2011 flooded road just south of Ellam which made it impossible for us for many weeks to travel direct from Rainbow to Jeparit other than by taking the Lake Hindmarsh route. That same downpours, up to 8 inches, also covered the turnoff to the Warracknabeal Road at Kenmare for a brief spell and created many, many anxious hours for the Jeparit community.