Greg Whitmouth walks across his front yard in waders to take his mother’s dog, Jessie, for a walk.
Although the ground floor of their Grenfell Street home is flooded, there are a few things that just need to be attended to.
“We have to, I don’t think we can stand the smell,” he says.
Forbes resident Greg Whitmouth. Credits: Alex Ellinghausen
The Whitmouths’ home in Forbes has a front row to the strong current that runs along Renfree Street, cutting off their part of the city from the central business district.
“I’m going to build a jetty and a slippery bath,” he jokes.
Locals have been down all morning having cups of tea and coffee, inspecting the waterline, which has remained stable overnight with the Lachlan River still at 10.68m.
Whitmouth outside his flooded home. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Many say they can see the waterline creep up to cover part of a tree, a fence, or more than one house.
However, Whitmouth says the gauge on his property shows it has regressed, but only by a hair.
Despite their own precarious situations, many Forbes residents and businesses are giving what they can to flood-ravaged Eugowra.
Whitmouth said the furniture business he worked for was lending a hand.
“People who are in fights and have nothing are trying to help,” he said.
Sue Gunn said her daughter, who lives meters from the waterline, was organizing donations for Eugowra, while Gunn herself had donated many items.
Businesses and residents in Forbes have counted themselves lucky compared to Eugowra, saying they have been given plenty of warning to prepare for the flood.