MUSIC program director Ian Russell is out of intensive care but still in Armidale hospital after suffering a fractured skull in Friday’s storm that uprooted tents at Guyra Lamb and Potato Festival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Russell was in a corner of the music tent when the whole thing uprooted.
Festival organiser Steve Mepham said on Monday Mr Russell was still quite unwell but was on the mend.
Six people were hurt in the storm that hit about 5pm Friday.
Stall holder Lindsay Stemp suffered massive bruising and lacerations and had 12 stitches to his hand. His wife Noala suffered bruises.
Another stall holder, Christine Finch sprained one wrist and her little finger on the other hand.
Mr Mephan said a “little lady’’ in one tent was literally being blown away when another woman grabbed her.
He praised the way the community rallied around: the SES worked late into the night clearing up and volunteers appeared from every direction with rakes and brooms and rubbish bins.
C2C Event Hire came on Friday night to pick up the ruined tents and then worked half the night packing new tents and were back the next morning to put them up with the help of yet more volunteers.
The council chipper arrived at 8am on Saturday and that saved the SES from having to remove the fallen debris.
The iconic sheep statue survived unscathed, unlike the flag pole beside it which was bent double. Elsewhere around town trees were down.
