AS the Shoalhaven comes to grip with current drought conditions, 44 years ago this week the region was in the midst of a flood emergency.
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The emergency was so great that personnel from HMAS Albatross were enlisted to help with the evacuation of more than 300 local residents.
On August 28, 1974, RAN helicopters from 723 (Lieutenant Commander BC Crawford, DSC, RAN) and 725 (Lieutenant Commander BJ Boettcher, RAN) Squadrons, and a fleet of RAN vehicles based at Albatross (Commodore AJ Robertson, DSC, RAN) started rescue operations in the flood-ravaged Shoalhaven region.
Altogether the navy removed some 352 people to safety.
In July that year industrial unrest led to the Storeman and Packers Union black-banning the RAN. That resulted in fuel shortages and flying restrictions.
It became a serious, and even life-threatening, issue when heavy rain and flooding inundated the Nowra area in August.
The FAA, including HT723 and HT725 squadrons, were called upon for disaster relief operations but the fuel shortage gave rise to concerns about whether rescue efforts would have to cease.
Eventually common sense prevailed and fuel tankers began to arrive allowing personnel from NAS Nowra to rescue some 352 people.
HT723 Squadron rescued about 70 people in seven sorties including a lady from Greenwell Point who had suffered three heart attacks and required urgent medical attention.
If you have any photos of the1974 Nowra floods, we’d love to see them - email them to robert.crawford@fairfaxmedia.com.au