“It’s a sign of how seriously we, as a nation, are taking what is a catastrophic event.”

Ex-rugby player lending a hand

Born in Taree on the mid-north coast, which has borne the brunt of deadly floods, Adamson described the area around the town as “devastation”.

Ex-rugby league player Matt Adamson said he felt “emotional” witnessing the flood damage in his hometown. Source: SBS News / SBS

The ex-Penrith Panthers star drove overnight down from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland to help with the clean-up and said he felt “emotional” seeing the aftermath of the floods firsthand.

“So to come back and lend a hand here, I think, is really important. And I’m sure there are plenty of other people who are doing the same.”

Greater support needed

“There’s greater support needed. Just the fundamentals like tools and gumboots and just simplistic things like that,” he said.

A team of 100 Disaster Relief Australia workers would also be operating in the area by the end of the week.

More than 32,000 people remained isolated by floodwaters on Sunday evening, and about 400 properties have been deemed inhabitable or destroyed, according to the NSW State Emergency Service.