General News
5 July, 2025
Nyngan Flood Recovery Stories - Part III
Other memorable sights during the recovery efforts included where the Cobar Railway line had been washed out from under a loaded train, with about a two-metre drop in the tracks.
By Peter Woodward
For those familiar with Nyngan, opposite the Golden Fleece Roadhouse, a pit had been dug out, and there was an excavator sitting in the bottom of it that probably ended up being 10 metres underwater, until the pit was pumped out.
As sunset approached, we needed to leave the town and go back to our quarters at the shearing shed, suffice to say, we needed plenty of water to shower and come clean.
The evening meal was a barbecue, with everything being donated again. As the night wore on, it became apparent that we were disturbing a bird in one of the trees next to the shed we were sleeping in, as it was chirping and screeching very loudly over several hours.
Around midnight, the guys were having a few glasses of port, when suddenly there were sirens and blue flashing lights coming up the driveway to the shed. That got everyone’s attention and we were wondering what we had done wrong that the Police needed to come and talk to us about.
Turns out we had done nothing wrong. The police on duty at the edge of town had been released and they were looking for a feed as well. We gave them a feed and listened to their stories and the claims that looters had been trying to pinch property in town.
After a while, one the Police noticed the bird in the tree in the hut next to the one I was sleeping in and said “that bird is going to keep you guys awake all night”, so he drew his pistol and fired two or three shots toward the bird, and without hitting it, the bird very quickly stopped squarking. I remember thinking, “Gee, I’m glad I wasn’t asleep and snoring!!
Overall, during the weekend, there was a huge amount of work accomplished. Mateship was at its best, and so many vivid memories of the physical and mental devastation that had occurred.
It was one the best weekends of my life and there were many people who were very proud of their contribution to the recovery of Nyngan.
The efforts of the townspeople of Cobar can’t be ignored either. One well known local, Mick Francisco, wrote this poem, called “People of Cobar”.
If you are going out thru Cobar,
Then spare a little time,
Walk around the streets and see,
Some treat old friends of mine.
They won’t be in beauty parlours,
Or driving fancy cars.
They’ll be around their homes, mate
Or somewhere in their yard.
Some are new to Cobar,
Some are pretty old,
But they share one thing in common,
Their hearts are solid gold.
Year of 1990 on April 23,
Disaster struck a township 80 miles away,
So the family got together, decided it was time
We can help the flooded people
With their washing on our lines.
The word spread real quickly,
They heard it at the mine,
Their clothes are in the Bogan,
Can you spare a bit of time?
They needs hands to resurrect it,
Release it from the mud.
Point it west, they’ll do the rest
In Cobar’s washing tubs.
They stacked it in the town hall
After it was cleaned
The biggest load of washing you had ever seen.
It was loaded on four semis,
Again those hands on loan,
Waving to the stockpile,
As it headed towards its home.
Now they are legends of the country
They’re looked upon with pride,
They reproduced a spirit,
And they took it in their stride.
So if you’re going out through Cobar
Weather hot or cold,
Don’t go past, til you’ve raised your glass,
To the Hearts of Gold.
The four semis of clothes were moved by the Australian Army, or so I have been told.
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