River of tears as kids arrive
PARENTS have been reunited with their children almost a week after major flooding left them stranded at a school camp in North Queensland.
The students from The Willows State School in Townsville and 10 staff members were evacuated from Echo Creek yesterday.
Father Mark Nettle said he was pleased to have his daughter home after six days.
“It’s a bit of a relief, never thought she was in any trouble at all but I knew that she wanted to get home so I’m relieved that she’s home,” Mr Nettle said.
“We missed her – it was a bit of a quiet household.”
The rescue operation started with moving the 68 students and 10 staff from the isolated Echo Creek Adventure Centre in Mission Beach to Tully Airport using army troop carriers.
Staff and students then boarded small planes and a helicopter for flights to Townsville.
A convoy of taxis then ferried the groups back to The Willows State School to be reunited with their families.
Year 6 student Jordan Nettle said the journey home was an adventure.
“We got on a bus and then we drove to the Tully Airport and some kids got on aeroplanes and we got on a helicopter,” she said.
Students left for the threeday adventure camp last Monday and were due to return on Wednesday.
However, major flooding isolated the camp after more than 700mm of rain fell around the region in just four days.
Father Craig Torsney said it was a horrible and stressful experience.
“I’ve always had contact with both children or with my wife at any time,” Mr Torsney said.
“This ( was) the longest I’ve ever been without having any contact with him at all.
“I couldn’t even enjoy the Cowboys game, I couldn’t enjoy anything.”
He said it was an emotional experience being reunited with his son.
“It was like the day he was born,” Mr Torsney said.
“He is sitting in my arms and I’m not letting him go.”
Department of Education deputy director general Jeff Hunt said it was up to parents to determine whether their children would be fit to return to school today.
“We recognise they had a protracted time at camp and we understand they may be very tired and fatigued,” Mr Hunt said last night.
“We allow parents to make the best decision in the interest of their children.”
Year 6 student Caileigh Fenton returned to Townsville with messy hair and said she was not entirely prepared for the extra- long “adventure” camp.
“I forgot to take my brush,” she said.
“We got stuck at Echo Creek for four days more than we were supposed to.”
However, she said an extra few days at the camp was not too bad.
“We did more fun activities: a mud course, snorkelling and laser tag,” she said. hair