Bottling generosity: People bring gifts of water to help quench dry, drought-hit Walgett

Walgett, in north-west NSW, has been on level 5 restrictions for four months and the town’s bore water supply was knocked out of action when it was hit by lightning last week.

The bore has since been restored, but drinking water is in short supply at a time when the town was hit with several 40-degree days.

Enter Maree Glohe.

She put a call out on social media for donations after hearing of the Walgett’s plight.

“I just came up with a brilliant idea the other night,” she said.

Mrs Glohe said about 50 people went to Robertson Park throughout the afternoon to donate bottles and trays of water.

“I got a huge response,” she said.

“Coles and Woolworths donated five trays of water bottles. Feed for Farmers donated 75 10-litre containers of water.”

She said the total load of water weighed about three tonnes.

Mrs Glohe will towing a trailer with all the water to Walgett on Tuesday.

On the way she will pick up donations at the petrol station in Molong at 9.30am.

She said she would also collect water in Dubbo from noon.

Mrs Glohe said she would hand out the bottles in Walgett later that day, offering it in six-bottle lots.

“I’ll see how it goes. If a family of five are there I will give them a whole tray of water,” she said.

“I got hold of the Walgett police to find the best place to deliver it to. We’re actually taking it to a business there.

“I’ll stay there until all the water has disappeared.”

Mrs Glohe said she would make another collection at Robertson Park from 8am-noon on Saturday January 19.

Apart from a lack of drinking water many Walgett residents also lost use of their evaporative air-conditioning units which need water to run.

The lack of water also forced shops to close including the butcher and a bakery.

Central Western Daily