Woman reunited with SES flood heroes

AFTER being thrown into raging floodwaters in the dead of night, Marlene Wing-Quay thought her life was at risk until she saw two beaming headlights coming towards her.

The 65-year-old’s car had been inundated just metres from her home of 30 years at Woodvale, forcing her to wade through waist-deep water for more than an hour during the state’s flood crisis in October.

Almost by accident, State Emergency Service Bendigo unit volunteers Braden Verity and Trent Ross had driven along a secluded road and couldn’t believe it when they saw a woman coming towards them.

“It’s a miracle that I was found,” Ms Wing-Quay said almost two months after the ordeal.

“I think I frightened them, as much as I was so happy to see them.”

The volunteers navigated the tricky terrain, eventually helping her to safety and calling paramedics.

“That’s one of the first times I can think of that we’ve actually had such a direct input into saving someone’s life,” Mr Ross said.

Mr Verity agreed that luck was with Ms Wing-Quay that night.

“You don’t happen upon people like this very often in the SES like what we did that night, so I think Marlene is quite lucky,” he said.

There were lots of hugs and laughter as the grandmother was reunited with her rescuers.

“They are so amazing and brave and I have to say thank you,” Ms Wing-Quay said.

Mr Verity said the flood crisis across much of regional Victoria through spring has led to an influx of queries from people keen to volunteer to protect their community from future disasters.