Robyn Brown was ordered to leave her Weilmoringle home as flood waters advanced.
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She wound up in a tiny space at a Dubbo caravan park with her two teenagers and six-year-old.
This, and similar accommodation, was to become the temporary home of the family and about 20 other Weilmoringle residents for the next five weeks.
Finally, yesterday, came the announcement Ms Brown and her family had been waiting for - the NSW State Emergency Service gave the “all clear” for their return to Weilmoringle.
It marked the end of one forced period of exile, but the people of the village about 100 kilometres north of Brewarrina may not get too comfortable.
Ms Brown and her family reported the February flood evacuation order was the fourth they had obeyed in the past two years.
They spent Christmas and the new year at Dubbo because of floods and had only been back at home for three weeks before the latest order was issued.
As they set about living in a temporary home they counted the costs of the floodwaters.
Ms Brown’s car left the village on a tow truck before she could set out in it for the rest of the journey to Dubbo, sister Michelle and her family also accompanying them.
They could only take some clothes and blankets, not food.
The electricity provider was about to switch off the power, so the perishable food had to go before they left on February 11.
“I had to chuck out what was in the fridge, my big yellow bellies (fish),” Ms Brown said.
The mother “didn’t feel welcome” at the caravan park and, at her repeated request, was moved to a flat.
It was a lot better there, near her mother and sister and their families, and with more room, she said.
But it was still a big adjustment.
“We all miss our own country,” she said.
“It’s quiet on the river.”
Sister Michelle agreed, remarking on the difference of life at Dubbo, especially transport and shopping.
“We’re not used to cars driving past 24 hours a day,” she said.
“We’re not used to spending money every day - out there we shop once a fortnight.”
Flood time was tough for the young ones - Robyn’s daughter Tori had to leave her dolls behind.
The six-year-old said she missed riding her motorbike and fishing at the river.
Meanwhile the Brown sisters’ niece had given birth while evacuated and was at a caravan park with a new baby, Michelle said.
“She had no money, the Red Cross helped her with a pram and baby clothes,” she said.
The Red Cross had helped them with food and other assistance while in Dubbo, Michelle said.
And the family gave a big vote of thanks to the service that helped all creatures, great and small.
“The RSPCA came to pick our dogs up and are looking after them,” she said.
The NSW Department of Family and Community Services advised about 25 people were evacuated from Weilmoringle to Dubbo during recent flooding.
Others were evacuated to Bourke, Brewarrina, Forbes and Goodooga.
Community Services and their partner agencies assisted these people by giving them monetary aid to come to Dubbo, accommodating them in emergency accommodation, supplying food vouchers and money, school uniforms for children and other clothing and regular personal contact to address issues, a department spokesman said.
Community Services also engaged the Red Cross to provide face-to-face and telephone outreach contact with evacuees, he said.