THE below story is one with a difference.<\/p>\n
Currently, I am located about 10 minutes from Alexandra at the Breakaway Twin Rivers Caravan Park, at the junction of the Goulburn and Acheron rivers. The park was damaged by the floods and has just recently started to reopen its door.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m here because of a conversation I had with the leasehold owners of the Breakaway Twin Rivers Caravan Park, Jamie and Tim.<\/p>\n
They relayed to me how they had been hit by the floods and how their park had been affected.<\/p>\n
I asked if there was anything we could do to help them. They said anything would be appreciated.<\/p>\n
So, with the support of the Times News Group and the agreement of the park, we are running a promotion to help return visitors to the park.<\/p>\n
In the park, several cabins and onsite vans were damaged though by the floods.<\/p>\n
While it is confronting walking around the park looking at the damage caused to residents\u2019 cabins and their annual caravan sites, it is even more so taking in their stories and watching their raw emotions as they try to relate to you the impact this has had on them.<\/p>\n
They amaze me with their willingness to contribute to help in the clean-up of the cabins and on-site caravans that were pummeled by the flood waters as they told us, with water in some instances reaching levels never previously experienced, reaching as high as the windows in caravans and cabins.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to describe the feeling you get as you walk around: you can\u2019t explain it in words, you can only come to understand it if you see it for yourself.<\/p>\n
The heartbreak some have experienced from the floods here has been life-changing<\/p>\n
According to those working here and the residents we have spoken to, it was a beautiful park.<\/p>\n
A local taskforce is working hard to help rebuild the park and return it to its former glory.<\/p>\n
The park, through these efforts, has just recently reopened with powered sites back in operation, some with river frontage.<\/p>\n
The facilities of the park are excellent and were untouched by the floods.<\/p>\n
Right now, though, the river that has caused so much damage is giving back to them in an unusual way.<\/p>\n
The flood waters (which have now eased) resulted in a large number of hatchery trout being freed into the river system.<\/p>\n
Fisheries informed us Snobs Creek Hatchery wasn\u2019t affected but one of the commercial hatcheries was hit by the floods, which supposedly resulted in the release of 20-30 tonnes of rainbow trout into the river systems.<\/p>\n
Currently, it\u2019s a fishers\u2019 paradise with great numbers of rainbow trout being caught with a minimum of effort and time.<\/p>\n
What they need is more people, visitors and fisherman to come and help support them.<\/p>\n
So, if you want or need a break, why not come up and stay and catch some magnificent trout in the process?<\/p>\n
After all the park has been through, they certainly could do with your support!<\/p>\n
Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n The competition consists of the following: Two nights\u2019 free accommodation in a riverview cabin or one week\u2019s free accommodation on a powered site; plus, two Twin River View fishing shirts and stubby holders.<\/p>\n All you have to do is email them your name, contact details and phone number to admin@thebreakaway.com.au<\/strong><\/p>\n Use the codeword \u201cMy Big Catch\u201d in your email to enter the draw, which will take place at the end of January, with winners to be advised by phone as well as announced in the paper.<\/p>\n The prize is valid for three years from date of issue.<\/p>\n Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing is urged to phone 13FISH (13 34 74) any time.<\/p>\n Photos: Please forward them to the email address below, with type of fish, weight, length, location, and your name. I am more than happy to place your photos in My Big Catch. Email photos to mybigcatch@bigpond.com<\/strong><\/p>\n FISHING REPORTS<\/p>\n Weather has been ordinary again and little by way of reports<\/p>\n Anglesea:<\/strong><\/p>\n Thanks to the Rusty Anglers Angling Club Anglesea<\/em><\/p>\n Barwon Heads:<\/strong><\/p>\n Reports compliments of the Ocean Grove Angling Club<\/em><\/p>\n Lorne:<\/strong><\/p>\n Reports compliments of the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club<\/em><\/p>\n Torquay:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n