Insider's <b>Ray Ban Outlet</b> view of Maitland in 1955 flood
At the time this centre was the largest, most important country communication centre in NSW, staffed by about 20 expert technical personnel and 25 telephonists.
Technicians worked different shifts around the clock to maintain a reliable 24 <b>Ray Ban Outlet</b> hour service, while telephonists worked primarily day and afternoon shifts utilising a number of manually operated switchboards to cope with the demand of around 1200 telephone service subscribers.
Maitland was an extremely important station as all circuits north, north east and north west, in addition to interstate services to Brisbane, were directed through Maitland.
To convert the frequencies of these circuits to open wire (above ground on telegraph poles) a large amount of heavy duty frequency conversion equipment was required.
This was installed on the first floor of Maitland Test Room.
Radio and broadcast lines carrying news broadcasts, and other significant information were controlled and maintained by Maitland Test Room, and dispersed to all centres.
Any power failure may have resulted in a complete loss of our communication network so every effort to maintain power, particularly in a time of crisis such as the 1955 flood, was not only necessary, but paramount.
As such, we had two 60 KVA (Kilo Volt Ampere) diesel powered generators, together with banks of heavy duty batteries that supported the operation of the no break sets
situated on the ground floor of the building.
As the flood waters rose, the operation of this vital equipment was threatened.
In an effort to block the advance of the rising water, the main doorway into the power room close to the Bourke Steet entrance was blocked off with wooden 3 inch by 3 inch cross arm poles measuring about 4 feet long and sealed with liquid Marfak.
Constructing this to a height of three feet took <b>Ray Ban Outlet Online</b> a great deal of time but resulted in a continued supply of power for the centre.
As a further precautionary measure, additional dieseline for the back up generators was required.
This was accomplished by a group of fellows who rolled two 44 gallon drums of dieseline along the street and through the flood water all the way from William C. Caines' establishment near Maitland Railway Station.
Due to the flood conditions all staff were required on deck.
I remember leaving my home at Branxton at 6am, but could not get through the <b>Ray Ban Outlet Online</b> water at High Street (Branxton) because, even then, it was level with the awnings of both hotels.
Reconsidering the situation, I travelled back to North Rothbury and along Rifle Range Road to Greta.
As I came down Harpers Hill at Greta, I noticed the flood water was level with the Luskintyre Bridge.
I headed to Rutherford and left my car opposite the current telephone exchange on the New England Highway.
A flat top truck carried me the rest of the way, moving through 2 feet of water at the court house located at the old Belmore Bridge.
As I arrived at work, knowing that any rise in water at Singleton would arrive in Maitland 24 hours later, it was predicted that the early hours of Saturday morning would be crucial.
As local telephone lines were non functional due to the flood, communication with radio station 2HR (Hunter River), now at Bolwarra, was maintained via CB radio.
Utilising the usual 2HR radio frequency, test room technical personnel such as myself, were able to communicate directly with station employees to provide regular updates, thereby keeping local residents informed.
I reflect gratefully on the fact that one radio announcer mentioned my name at the end of an update I had provided.
This simple act of kindness served as a notification of my safety to members of my family listening to the broadcast.