Tumultuous events in 35 years
November 2005
January is usually a dry month in Canberra however, during the formative years of the nation's capital a highly unusual event occurred in the Woden Valley which tested the resources and courage of police officers at the old Woden Police Station.
Detective Superintendent (retired) Ian "Herb" Prior was a young constable when a freakish storm hit Canberra on Australia Day, 1971.
"I looked out the car window to see an enormous bank of dark clouds forming to the south-east," he said.
Back in 1971, the now-thriving Phillip business district was still undeveloped. That open ground channelled the waters rushing down from Farrer Ridge and Mt Taylor on either side, focussing it into a dirty torrent rushing down the valley.
It was the "once in 100 years" flood, and the locals had never seen anything like it.
"A lightning bolt took out the police radio tower, leaving commercial radio as the only means of communicating both for police and the public," Mr Prior said.
While the local radio stations issued warnings of the coming floods, a combination of disbelief and indecision slowed the public response to the emerging crisis.
As a member of the ACT Police Search and Rescue Squad, Herb Prior knew his services would be needed.
When he arrived at the intersection of Yamba and Melrose Drives, at the former low-level crossing for Yarralumla Creek, he could scarcely believe what he was seeing.
"I saw people clinging to trees after their cars had been swept off the crossing and into the creek," he said.
Police, ambulance and fire brigade members had to form human chains to rescue the people in shallow water, where the current was less fierce.
A tow truck arrived with chains and ropes on board, and these were commandeered by emergency crews. Constable Jeff Brown, from the Woden Station, tied a rope around his waist and struggled out deep into the torrent.
He repeatedly pulled people to safety, and was later to receive a British Empire Medal for gallantry for his efforts that day.
"A call came over the truckie's CB radio that a bloke was caught in a car near the creek bridge at MCulloch Street, in Curtin," Mr Prior said.
"It was dark when we arrived but by torch light we saw the car in the centre of the flood, jammed sideways against a large willow tree.
"We ran about 80 metres upstream and floated down to the car, our efforts complicated by the lengths of rope we carried.
"On reaching the car, we found a petrified driver clinging to the steering wheel."
The situation became more drastic as a whirlpool had begun to develop around the car. The man tied the rope around his chest, wound down his window, and pushed himself out into the torrent, trusting in the firemen and bystanders to pull him to safety. Seconds later, the car went under water.
Tragically, seven people lost their lives that fateful day, trapped in their cars as the floodwaters raged. Five police officers from Woden Station, including Constable Brown, received bravery awards as a result of their actions that day.