“The first disaster occurred in February 1955 when the town was declared a national disaster area due the severity of the flooding from the Hunter River,” he says.

“I thought at the time I was in mortal danger because my family was living at 29 York Street – my father was stuck on the property at Goorangoola so I was the man of the house aged only 10 years.

“My mother, sister Lorna, aunt and cousin were trapped for two days and two very dark nights sitting on a wardrobe in that 

house clinging together and staying awake to ensure no one feel off the wardrobe into the flood waters.

“I eventually got down and waded thought  the water to the kitchen and got a knife and cut a hole in the ceiling thinking that would be our escape route when we were found by local rescuers and taken out by boat.”

Dr Bailey said the Singleton Army moved into town when the flood waters receded and helped to clean the town.

“Many people thought that was the end of Singleton but that was not the case as today we live in a very vibrant and resilient community,” he says.

BETTY Butler’s most vivid memory of the flood was the kindness and generosity shown to the Singleton residents who were flooded out. 

“Mr and Mrs Jack Bailey of Dangar Road had 35 of us turn up at their home, unexpectedly and late at night,” she says.

“We had no food or clothing so they shared what they had. Some of us stayed three weeks. 

“Aeroplanes came to drop food at the hospital, convent or any dry spots. 

“Residents of Dangar Road baked many scones.

“One day while we were busy cleaning, a large van from Cessnock drove by calling ‘Fresh pies, fresh pies!’.

“Of course, fresh food sounded wonderful after a diet of tinned food. 

“Everyone along the street came with money but this kind man was shocked. 

“He said: ‘No, no. This is my gift to you all.

“There were more tears but now they were tears of gratitude. 

“This act of kindness gave us much encouragement.”

ST Catherine’s Catholic College was cut off from the Convent.  Morning dawned and the College was in the midst of rushing water. The top rail of the tennis court fence was barely visible. Dead chooks were swept away and pigs were standing on their hind legs with their heads above water.

There were 100 or so boarders plus men, women and children upstairs and no food. Sister Mary Raphael and senior girls made a chain from the back stairs to the dining room. The water was waist high but we made sure we were in reach of posts. The bread we hoped to get was saturated by flood water – the only food we could salvage was a few tins of baked beans, marmite and two loaves of bread.

There were more than 150 hungry people so we divided the bread as best we could – 20 slices from each loaf, each cut into four pieces, with a teaspoon of baked beans or a little marmite. By Friday night, meagre food supplies came in from Newcastle by army ducks.