Saving the goldfish was a priority for Kristine Hooper on the night Henley flooded, but she said coming home yesterday and seeing her recently renovated 150-year-old cottage surrounded by floodwater was cause for greater anxiety.
Henley was isolated at the weekend when floodwaters entered the township, inundating properties and entering a few homes, including the Hoopers'.
They scrambled to get out as the water rose to chest height, gathering pets as they went, including goldfish from a pond.
"She wouldn't want anything to suffer," Mrs Hooper's husband, Kerrie, said.
Gary the cat had gone missing but was found yesterday.
He had taken refuge with the hens high up on the hill behind the house, a relieved Mrs Hooper said.
Surveying the damage, Mr Hooper said he did not know where to start, but thought in the long term the couple would look at raising the cottage to avoid being flooded again.
"It's a disaster. We'll wait until the insurer's been, then work it out."
Water had receded from the cottage but not before reaching above power-point level and soaking newly-laid waterproof-backed carpet and new cabinets.
"You always say it's only stuff, but now it's happened ..."
Mrs Hooper said.
Yesterday, water was still ponding around their house bus, restored vintage truck and motorcycles.
They were amazed at how quickly floodwaters rose on Friday night and wondered why better information had not come from authorities, Mr Hooper said.
The couple were impressed with neighbour Jay MacLean's concern for their plight.
"He was so worried about us, but it's his livelihood that's flooded."
Mr MacLean's engineering workshop still had water in it and until it drained he would be unable to start to clean-up, wash machinery and assess it.
"Most will be salvageable - it's just finding the time to do it," he said
