Extracts from The History of Maitland Police Citizens Youth Club aka The Police Boys Club, by Mick Fairleigh and Paul Doherty.
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The building was planned to be above 1949 flood level and was threatened in 1952 while still under construction.
Aub Brazier, his wife Nell their kids along with Sergeant Moffitt and his wife Mary were trapped in the building during the 1955 flood.
“Like many people of Maitland our planning used the 1949 flood as a basis since that was the biggest flood in living memory,” Mr Brazier said. “The four of us shifted our furniture over to the club and settled in for the night.
“Nell, the kids, and I slept on our bed, while Vic and his wife slept on the floor. We were woken by Vic’s voice crying out, Jesus Christ! The water’s coming under the door.
“Vic quickly ushered us up onto the stage where the furniture was stored. The water was rising quickly and Vic suggested we lift the piano onto the top of my dining table, which we proceeded to do.
“We weren’t on the stage for very long before the water started lapping it and (Mr Brazier) said to Vic, we’re going to die here; we’re going to drown because we can’t get out.
“Vic gathered us together and directed us to the back of the stage and to a ladder leading to the ceiling. All six of us quickly climbed it and got onto the rafters.
“Vic told us to keep talking, just keep talking about anything because if anyone goes to sleep they could fall into the water and drown.
“I had my cups and saucers on the dining table and as the water rose it washed them off the table and you could hear them hitting the wall.
“Vic likened it to the Titanic and said to us, well this is what it must have been like on the Titanic; cups and saucers hitting against the walls and making that nervewracking rattle. Keep talking – for this is our Titanic.
“The following morning Vic told us to hush-up because he thought he had heard something. And he had – for the police were moving around in a rowboat outside. Vic made his way over to a window and smashed it. He caught the police’s attention and we were saved.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Vic – about how he kept us calm in such a scary and highly dangerous situation. I have always likened him to the captain on the Titanic and that’s how I remember that night – as our Titanic.”
