Yulong thank wider community for their support during flood rescue

This region is home to the likes of Swettenham Stud, Godolphin/Darley, Seymour Park, Lindsay Park and Gilgai Farm to name a few.

Yulong, based in Magalore, just south of Nagambie, were one of the farms worst affected and after an horrendous 24 hours battling rising flood waters, the operation announced on Friday night that all their horses, livestock and staff had been moved to safety.

On Friday morning, as the flooding showed no signs of abating, the farm issued a call for help, urging the local community and people with boats, floats, life jackets and other equipment to help rescue a number of horses stranded in flooded paddocks.

As the water continued to flood the fields on the farm, pictures emerged on social media of people guiding horses to safety either on foot or in boats.

However, on Friday evening, Yulong issued a statement via their Twitter page thanking the surrounding community for their support.

“Yulong Stud would like to thank the incredible local Nagambie, Seymour and surrounding communities and the thoroughbred industry network for their selfless help and support during the devastating floods today (Friday),” read the release from Yulong Stud.

“After a very challenging 24 hours, we can now report that the staff, horses and livestock are safe and have been transported to higher ground.”

However, the farm sadly revealed that two foals had died in the flood water, but that the losses would have been significantly higher had the community not rallied around the farm.

“Sadly, two foals died in the flooding, however this number may have been much higher without the prompt and courageous action from countless businesses and individuals.

“From trucks and boats to sandwiches to fuel everyone, the quick response and kind actions by so many in the local community has been incredible.

“We are thankful to be involved in such a generous industry that rallies together in times of need.”

'We have been very lucky'

Darley’s Northwood Park, located on the opposite side a little further south of the Goulburn River, were able to move all their stock to higher ground on Thursday and the farm’s Nominations Sales Consultant, Lisa Manning, told TDN AusNZ on Friday that they had been luckier than many farms in the surrounding area.

“The last few weeks the rain has been heavy but coming inland a bit there are some billabongs and when the river fills up, they fill up. So, we had to move the horses across from there a week and a half ago or maybe a week ago, because once the crossings are full we can’t get across,” she explained.

“But the extent of the flood this time was higher than anyone has ever seen in years, so we got the yearlings out of the other paddocks yesterday (Thursday) morning and they are fine, thankfully.

“We didn’t think we would have to move them to be honest, but when we knew the water was going to come higher than we thought we made the decision to get them out.

"We don’t have as much stock here compared with the other farms, so it is a little bit easier. We have been very lucky.

“There were a few cow casualties, which is obviously very sad, but the horses are fine and we have been very lucky compared with a lot of people in the area.”

Meanwhile, Swettenham Stud tweeted on Friday that all horses and staff on their property were safe, while Gilgai Farm posted a video on their Twitter page of four horses swimming through the flood water to safety.

Manning said the whole community was rallying around each other making sure everyone was coping with the situation.

“Next door to us we have Seymour Park and we have been toing and froing with them to make sure everyone has got enough staff and making sure they are all good. The other side is not a thoroughbred farm, but we have been trying to help them out and vice versa, it’s farmers I suppose - they like to get in and help each other out.

"We also sent a few guys up to Yulong and I think they ended up with a lot of help, which is great.

“We have been getting a lot of phone calls today (Friday) and everyone is just asking each other if they are okay and everyone is helping each other, which is nice. It’s been an exhausting couple of days, but it’s nice to know everyone is looking out for each other and that you have the support of your friends and colleagues nearby who are happy to mix in and help out if you need them to.”

Offer of support

Located approximately 150km south of the worst-affected area is Three Bridges and Toby Liston pledged his support for the farms affected by the rising water.

“You feel for everyone else affected and if we can help them in any way we will. It’s just a country of extreme weather at the moment,” Liston told TDN AusNZ. “We drove our staff out with the tractor last night so they still got home and then drove them back in this morning. We are fortunate to have a good flood program, but the clean up is devastating.

“Thankfully, we haven’t missed a beat, but because it has been so wet we have had a temporary foaling unit set up to get smarter and better and have just adjusted. We have around 400 acres we can’t use at the moment, but we’re very lucky compared to others.”

In the wake of the emergency, the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia has created a mental health support line for anybody in the breeding industry to use. This is available on 1300 822 935.

“Given the flooding events of today (Friday) they have reached out to the counselling provider to set up a system for specific trauma counselling for farms who’ve been impacted. This would see a dedicated counsellor either visit the farm or do it online/via phone," the release read.

If any farm would like to set this up for their team, please contact Cecelia O’Gorman on +61 411 696 036.