Woden Valley Flood Memorial Traditional Geocache
Ngaambul: No response from the owner within the last 28 Days and as per my original note this cache has been archived. If you wish to replace it please submit a new cache via this link.
Woden Valley Flood Memorial
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On Australia Day (Jan 26) 1971, a flash flood occurred in the Woden Valley near this location. The flood killed seven people including four children, injured 15 people and affected a further 500 people. Property damage was estimated at AUD$ 9 million. It was estimated that around 95 mm of rain fell in one hour during this event.
The Woden Flood Memorial features an inscribed standing stone and map stone, along with seating and gardens.
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of this flash flood. The memorial was erected and was dedicated last year on the 39th anniversary of the flood. The scene of the tragedy was previously marked by seven simple roadside crosses erected by former policeman Blen McInnes who helped rescue other people from the flood.
As a relatively new resident in the ACT, and young enough that this occurred many years before I was born, I was surprised to hear of this recently. I'm curious how many current residents know or remember.
The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department Disasters Database lists the following paragraph:
"A severe storm caused flash-flooding & seven deaths due to drowning and injuries. Widespread flooding occurred in Woden Valley, south-east of the city, which rapidly filled the concrete-lined creek that ran beside the Woden Valley freeway.
At the time of the storm, the freeway was packed with commuters heading home. As the deluge began, the traffic halted - culverts at one end of the valley became blocked with debris, and the backup sent a flash flood surging onto the freeway.
Flash flooding engulfed more than a dozen cars and swept them into its torrent. Roads and stormwater systems were damaged. At a subsequent coroner's inquiry into the drownings, engineers described how the valley's stormwater system had been designed to accommodate a "100-year-storm". Its impact may have been a storm of this magnitude, but its effect was exacerbated by excessive runoff from urbanised land which, a decade previously, had been grassland and woodland. "
Attorney-General’s Department Disasters Database (visit link)
Wikipedia (visit link)
Please do not disturb the memorial itself including the gardens around it. Please be stealthy. While signing the log, you may wish to take a seat at the memorial, relax and contemplate for a few minutes.
Parking is available on Service Street or Dry Street.
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