There are many stories of loss and heartbreak coming from our beautiful Clarence Valley over the last few weeks.

Like many others in our community, Mareeba Aged Care in Maclean has done an amazing job going “above and beyond” to care for residents during the major flooding.

Facility manager Rachel Bennett said Mareeba was very fortunate to have an amazing team across all Departments.

“We successfully managed full evacuations of the first floor to relocate all residents, staff and essential supplies to our second floor. Like the rest of the Lower Clarence community, these flood levels were unlike anything we had experienced before and even our usual contingency plans had to be ramped up to deal with this ever-changing event,” she said.

Catering staff kept their work colleagues and residents fed, while the clinical team managed the care of more than 100 residents around the clock, often at the expense of their own sleep and rest.

Rachel said members of the Leisure, Lifestyle, Catering and Maintenance Departments stepped in to do roles outside of their normal responsibilities.

“Many staff stayed in local accommodation or at Mareeba itself as they selflessly prioritised Mareeba and the residents over their own homes and isolation,” she said.

“Due to our efficient teamwork our residents remained safe and well, despite the pressure on staff, and were neither stressed nor panicked about the flood. Staff were always on hand to provide reassurance and the contact many residents were missing due to the separation from their families.”

As floodwaters receded and roads reopened, other staff members returned to work, providing much-needed relief and support for the “Flood Crew of 2022”. Rachel said Mareeba’s management team was incredibly proud of their staff, their ability to adapt to the constantly changing conditions and how everyone continued to work together for their own benefit and the safety and well-being of our precious residents.

Thanks also to the members of our local community who volunteered to assist during this time of crisis.