OPERATION CAMILLERI
In Response to: 2022 floods
Location: Riverland, South Australia
Status: Complete
29 May 2023 – 13 July 2023
Riverland Flood Recovery Operation
In December 2022, more than 4,000 properties in South Australia’s Riverland were impacted and inundated when floodwaters overwhelmed the Murray River. The area affected spanned from Murray Bridge to the Victorian border with significant damage to properties.
Our volunteers arrived in the area on 28 May at the request of the South Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet and Green Industries SA and as a contractor to Disaster Management Australia.
Our team were onsite for six weeks to clear debris and worked within the Mid Murray Council area to assist the community with post-flood clean-up.
Area of Operations
Mid Murray Council (Mannum and Blanchetown areas)
Recovery Taskings for Operation Camilleri
As part of Operation Camilleri, DRA provided the following capabilities:
- Damage and Impact Assessments
- Chainsaw work and tree removal
- Flood recovery tasks including debris management and removal
- Expedient home repairs
- Route clearance.
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The story behind the name
As part of its respect to military veterans, Disaster Relief Australia names its relief operations after a local veteran in honour of their service to the community, and in turn ours.
South Australia’s flood recovery operation is named in honour of Sapper Roy Leslie Camilleri, SX19170 with the blessing of his family descendants.
Roy Leslie Camilleri was born in Mannum on 11 July 1923, he attended nearby Punthari Public School and worked as a motor mechanic prior to joining the Royal Engineers in early 1943.
He joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper in the 2/13 Australian field company, 9th Division on 16 February 1943. He saw active duty in the South Pacific, which included Rabaul, Borneo and Papua New Guinea.
As a Sapper his assignments included demining the mine fields before the main body of troops entered the area.
Roy was a member of the well-known division who fought with the RATS of Tobruk before they were sent back from the Middle East to then fight in the Pacific Islands against Japanese soldiers.
As recognition for his service, Roy received many medals including The War Medal 1939-1945; 1939-1945 Star; Australian Service Medal 1945-1975; Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 and the Pacific Star.
Roy was discharged from service on 3 September 1946.
Roy passed away from natural causes on 28 June 2012, aged 88, and is buried with wife, Dorothy, at the Houghton Cemetery. Dorothy also grew up in Mannum.