FORTY volunteers and a flotilla of boats yesterday completed evacuating almost 3000 sheep stranded by rising waters in the Cunninyeuk district.
Swan Hill, Moulamein and Kerang State Emergency Service units were swung into action on Friday morning in a dawn-to-dusk operating on Gordon Chilvers’ property, “Wahronga”, about 40km from Swan Hill, on the Diniliquin Road.
Mr Chilvers said the sheep had been cut off by the swollen Wyam Creek.
The sheep were loaded from temporary yards into four SES boats and a fleet of punts to be ferried about 3km along the Wyam Creek to safe ground.
Mr Chilvers said hardly a sheep was lost.
“I appreciate greatly the help that’s been given by many people,” he said.
“This is the first time I’ve had a problem of such magnitude.”
Mr Chilvers said the Wyam Creek, which is fed by the Wakool River, was already at a record flood level and would rise further as the Murray River rose.
He said the sheep, in full wool, were to be shorn.
Mr Chilvers said one of his neighbors also had about 100 sheep stranded by the rising waters and another evacuation was planned for tomorrow.
The Murray River has been closed to recreational powered vehicles from Barham to Swan Hill because of the night level and the danger of wake wash erosion of levee banks.
