Oral history interview, Trevor Anderson
Production date
06 Jun 2023
About this object
Trevor Anderson was interviewed by Anna Buxton Soldal on Wonnarua Country at Maitland City Library, 480 High Street, Maitland on the 6th of June 2023, as part of the Maitland City Library Oral History Project 2023. The aim of this project was to record oral history interviews from a diverse cross-section of the Maitland community impacted by recent flooding events.
Prior to his current occupation as a Health Safety and Environment Manager, Trevor was in the Navy. He grew up in Port Macquarie, moved to Maitland in 2001, and has volunteered with Nobbys Surf Life Saving Club since first moving to the area.
Much of the interview details his experience as a first responder with Surf Life Saving NSW supporting the SES in the 2022 floods, which impacted Maitland and the broader Hunter Region. The beginning of the interview also covers how Trevor’s own home has been impacted by various floods since he moved to the Maitland area.
Trevor and his family initially lived on a 4-acre property in Louth Park that backed onto the floodplain. The first flood they experienced at that property was in 2007. Their home was isolated by flood waters in 2015, however, the property itself was not impacted. Trevor has since moved to East Maitland, where his home backs onto the Rathluba Lagoon. The extensive flooding across Maitland in June/July of 2022 impacted the parkland and lagoon behind his house, with water rising to just below the fence line.
Trevor goes on to detail his involvement as a first responder for two local flood events in March and June/July of 2022. The March floods primarily impacted towns in the Upper Hunter region and the areas he covered including Denman, Scone, and Muswellbrook. He was then deployed for the June/July floods, which greatly impacted the Maitland area. When the community of Gillieston Heights became isolated, he helped ferry people across to Maitland who required medical attention, critical medical supplies, and first responders.
Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this interview are solely those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of Maitland City Council. If you have concerns about material made available on this website, please contact us at opened.minds@maitland.nsw.gov.au.
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