A simple act of kindness reflected the spirit in flood-ravaged Sussex Inlet on Thursday.
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Jim Chivers, 77, who lives at South Sussex Inlet, needed medication.
He drove as far as he could to get to the main street of the flooded village before reaching road closed signs.
With the aid of two walking sticks he started walking along the flooded edge of River Road, when resident Julie Sigsworth, whose own property was flooded, came to his aid.
Mrs Sigsworth took Mr Chivers’ scripts and walked through the floodwaters to get his medication, even hitching a ride back in a four-wheel drive.
“She’s an angel,” Mr Chivers said.
Both long-time Sussex residents, Mrs Sigsworth for 34 years and Mr Chivers 30 years, said they had never seen flood waters so high.
“Only once has it got into our granny flat and it only lapped through the floorboards. This time we had four inches flow through it,” Mrs Sigsworth said.
“The gods must have been with us; it didn’t get into the house. The water was a couple of centimetres from coming in and stopped.”
Mr Chivers was thankful his home was high and dry.