Floodwater seeped from the carpet under the weight of Flying Officer Aleksandr Yashin’s boots as he helped heartbroken staff salvage what they could from the flood-ravaged Goodna Services Club in Queensland.
The father of five was among the Air Force personnel mobilised to assist the community, as part of Operation Flood Assist 2022.
Flying Officer Yashin said he was tasked at short notice to clear debris from houses in suburbs hardest hit by the deluge of water.
“It’s not a glamorous task, but it’s an extremely important one,” Flying Officer Yashin said.
“I believe any Australian in my position would be doing exactly the same and feeling exactly the same way.”
While his home was not water damaged, his family was isolated and without power for three days and, as the clean-up continued at home, local businesses and residents affected were reaching out for help.
Flying Officer Yashin and the Air Force team answered the call for help from the Goodna Services Club.
“This is what I signed up to do, we’re all here and doing the same job, and I’m extremely proud to do it,” Flying Officer Yashin said.
Air Force personnel and Goodna Services Club operations manager Ms Kim McLaren, right, assess damage to the club as part of Operation Flood Assist 2022. Photo: Corporal Julia Whitwell
Goodna Services Club operations manager, Kelly McLaren, said she remembered the heartache as she watched the unrelenting flood waters inundate the club.
“Being an ex-RSL club it means a lot to us to have Australian Defence Force personnel helping us out as a community,” she said.
“If it wasn’t for these guys, we’d be here for weeks, if not months.”
Defence support to Queensland and NSW governments is being delivered under Operation Flood Assist 2022.
