Roaring up the valley yesterday, a high-powered chopper ferried the NSW Governor David Hurley into the heart of the flood-battered Hunter.
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The former Defence Force chief inspected Metford and Maitland before he touched down on a waterlogged football field in Dungog.
Dungog mayor Harold Johnston and SES representatives greeted him metres from where two war veterans lost their lives in the floods last Tuesday.
Mr Hurley and his wife, Linda, visited the community centre, a flood relief day at the primary school, the food bank and the sites where three people were killed.
“I’ve been really heartened by the way the community has come together in a very Australian way but obviously there’s a lot of hurt and shock still,” Mr Hurley said.
“However they’re in a good state and they’re positive.
“Given the right assistance they can get the school opened and return to some patterns of normality and that will help.”
Mrs Hurley consoled a distraught member of Alison Court, the aged care facility where Colin Webb was killed, during the visit to the neighbourhood centre.
“The emotions are right near the surface, but they’re talking to each other. It’s important for people to not hold their emotions in, get out and talk to people,” Mr Hurley said.
“Progress will be slow at times, but as long as they’re holding onto each other they’ll get through this.”
The Governor offered the support of the higher levels of government to Dungog council and the mayor thanked him on behalf of the town’s residents.
“I didn’t press him for any specifics, but it’s great to see we’re not alone. It’s encouraging to see that our hurt is understood right from the top down to those of us on the ground,” Cr Johnston said.
“I asked if he could leave the helicopter and pilot so we could get about but I said I wanted to paint it Dungog Warriors colours.
“You have to try to find light in this situation when you can.”
Dungog Community Centre manager Sarah U’Brien said the visit was appreciated at a time of great sorrow and fatigue.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the community to see that people beyond our little town care about what’s happening here, who are willing to walk with us on this recovery,” she said.
“We’re still in crisis, but the next step will be to make people secure in their accommodation for when they begin to process the enormity of what’s happened to them.”