Above: Maryka’s house was completely ruined by the floods. Pictures: Kim Cartmell and Meagan Rogers
By Melissa Meehan
EIGHT months ago, visitors would have to scale a mountain of wet carpet to get to Markya Collins’ front door, only to find the inside of her house watermarked and ruined by floodwater.
“Remember the smell?” Maryka asks with a smile.
“It was dreadful, it really was a mess – you wouldn’t recognise it now.”
Looking around Maryka and her husband Tim’s house it’s hard to believe they are standing in the same house. The walls are a crisp white and there is freshly laid carpet where bare wet boards once laid.
But while the watermarks and ruined furniture are gone, the fears and worries remain.
“During the heavy rains last week, I panicked,” she said.
“I thought to myself, here we go again. I couldn’t sleep.”
Luckily for Maryka, there was no flooding in Tynong last week, the drains that she believed added to February floods had been cleared and she was safe.
“It never should have happened,” she said.
“If the drains had been cleared earlier, it would have stopped it in February like it did last week.
“But since then the council and V-Line have done a great job – I just hope they keep it up.”
Maryka and her husband were not left with much when the waters receded in February – they didn’t even have a pair of shoes to their name. Luckily they were insured, and were able to get on their feet much quicker than others they knew. “CGU were really good to us,” she said.
“They gave us a cheque to buy shoes straight away and found us a house to live in Pakenham while the house was being rebuilt.
“It was nice, but nothing is as beautiful as Tynong.”
Now that her house is finished, as good as new – Maryka is happy to be home.
