OPERATION SIMMONDS
In Response to: Floods
Location: Forbes, NSW
Status: Complete
18 January – 2 March 2023
EOIs are now closed for this operation.
Not yet a volunteer with DRA and keen to help? Then join us now via the link below.
NSW Floods Recovery Operation
In November 2022 more than 1000 residents in the regional NSW town of Forbes were evacuated to higher ground in preparation for its worst flood in 70 years.
Our base of operations was located at the Forbes Showground, Forbes.
Areas of Operation
Disaster Relief Australia conducted a flood recovery operation in the Forbes, Parkes and Cabonne local government areas.
Flood Recovery Taskings
DRA’s work included general flood clean-up activities such as mucking out and gutting of flood affected properties, removal of both furniture and damaged wall linings, remedial clean-up measures, debris management and removal, chainsaw operations, fence line repairs, aerial damage assessments and spontaneous community volunteer management.
Requests for clean-up assistance
Members of the community who required DRA’s assistance contacted the team on the ground and arranged a damage assessment.
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The story behind the name
Disaster Relief Australia has a proud military background, and as part of our respect to our veteran roots when we deploy a disaster relief operation we name it after a local veteran in honour of their service to the community, and in turn ours.
Operation Simmonds is named after Corporal Edley Simmonds and Private James Simmonds. The pair were brothers from Forbes and served in the 2/31 Battalion AIF. They were killed in action on the Kokoda Track within a short time of each other 10 November 1942. Edley was 29 and James 28. They are buried at Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Bomana, Papua New Guinea.
Operation Simmonds is named in their honour with the blessing of their family descendants.