2021 Floods

As we had all adjusted to being in and out of COVID lockdowns, Mother Nature decided to step in and keep us on our toes in June 2021 with an arctic blast. This brought massive gale winds, copious amounts of rain, storm damage and in some places evacuation orders. For some, like our home shed, the orders came too late to save the buildings. The rain just kept coming and coming, making the local creeks flood across a massive part of Traralgon and other areas in Victoria. The Traralgon flooding affected us the most because it flooded our home shed, which the club has spent so many years of hard work, love, pride and fundraising to bring up to health and safety standards.

It was a place where we could all come together to skate, train, support each other and have so much fun and laughter. These floods not only affected us but everyone at the Traralgon Recreation Reserve complex and surrounding homes, with flood waters in the area around the 1 meter plus range causing a huge amount of destruction as it went. Massive efforts were implemented to get things cleaned up by everyone involved in the recreation reserve/show grounds, while all wearing PPE (as the flood waters were contaminated) as well as abiding by COVID rules. It was messy and smelly and hard work but with a lot of help, determination and hard work we saved what we could. We had to throw out a lot of damaged stock, brand new wall padding, parts of the walls, safety equipment for both league and SkateFit, so many pairs of roller skates, memorabilia and so much more.

Now after the massive cleaning efforts, what is left?

Well, the road to rebuilding starts with working out what needs replacing, waiting to see what is and what isn’t covered by insurance, fundraising to cover the things insurance won’t cover and to help with keeping a temporary home at Churchill Leisure Centre while we wait patiently for one of the outcomes from insurance company and plan for the rebuilding of our beloved home. We will spring back better than ever but we do need help and support. If you are able to donate please do so at one of the two links below. https://asf.org.au/projects/gippsland-ranges-roller-derby/ or https://gofund.me/e0417b1b Of course we always welcome new members if you wish to help in other ways, or just want to get on skates and see what this amazing club is all about.