Residents lend helping hand as cleanup begins
What looked like a normal day in Mataura yesterday morning was anything but.
The sun was shining and there was a quiet buzz of activity as residents were popping into the town’s community centre, which had become a resource centre to help those affected by the floods.
A handful of Mataura residents had returned home on Thursday night, but many opted to return in daylight yesterday morning – uncertain of what they’d find.
What was certain was the fact that this town of hard working people were ready to do what it took to help their neighbours.
Every flooded home was surrounded by an army of helpers moving furniture and keeping spirits up.
Volunteers quietly assisted folks who visited the community centre to help them reconnect their power and stock up on supplies.
Here, they could get their hands on clean water; warm, dry bedding; food and any other bits and bobs they may have needed.
Periodically, someone would walk in with donations to add to the pile already gathered from retailers in Gore.
Mataura Community Board chairman Alan Taylor said helping Mataura residents get re-established was the number one priority for the board.
‘‘There’s a huge community spirit to help them,’’ he said.
Good news arrived in the afternoon when Gore District Council chief executive Steve Parry announced a deal to fast-track the removal of the ouvea premix that had been causing anxiety since evacuations began on Wednesday.
Civil Defence response team leader Craig Sinclair said he was impressed with Mataura’s response to the emergency.
From fire services to rugby teams, everyone chipped in before and after the evacuation, he said.
‘‘Everyone who was in town just went and did what needed to be done,’’ he said.
Minister of Civil Defence Peeni Henare visited Mataura and talked with volunteers about their wellbeing.
He also listened to suggestions from civil defence volunteers – many of whom had been through flooding scenarios before.
Henare walked down to the bridge to see the Mataura River before heading back to Invercargill where he told reporters there was ‘‘a sense of business as usual’’ in the town.
It was indeed business as usual for for the staff at the Mataura Butcher Shop.
It was one of few businesses open after residents were asked to evacuate on Wednesday morning.
The shop had been closed since Tuesday night but their first staff member arrived at 5am to get ready for the demands that yesterday would bring.
Store owner Jen Duffy said they had had a busy morning supplying community members who wanted to feed their helpers during clean up operations.
Managing the store is usually the responsibility of her husband, Chris, but as a fireman, he was otherwise engaged.
She said friends and family from all over Southland had been helping to get things back to normal as soon as possible.