Tallong tempest creates havoc at Mendez Equestrian Centre

Tuesday afternoon was far from peaceful when a tempest came calling across their region and much further afield.

"It was like a tornado," the international equestrian coach told The Post.

"I couldn't see the sky for all the branches and debris flying around. The trees were turning around on themselves. It was horrible."

READ MORE: Goulburn, Crookwell and region hit hard by super storm cell

Mr Mendez and a helper were training horses at his Badgerys Lookout Road property at the time. His wife, Fay, was travelling back from Bowral but said her husband later told her he'd never been so scared in his life as winds reached what he estimated to be well over 100km/h.

"They saw the storm coming and ran for shelter inside," Mrs Mendez said.

"The house was shaking and the front tiles came off the roof. It took down about 25 trees, which all twisted as though a tornado had come through."

Unlike previous storms, it blew in from the west but turned back on itself, shaking up the home's rear section. Mr Mendez tried to pull down a roller door on a nearby shed as the wind threatened to lift the structure, but was almost lifted himself. The rain was "horizontal."

The fury was over within about 30 minutes and conditions calmed.

But it left a trail of destruction, including broken external fencing, damage to the horse yard, house roofing and trees downed everywhere on the property.

ALSO READ: Men die in helicopter crash in bushland near Tallong | PHOTOS

The storm also cut power in much of Tallong for 24 hours from about 5pm Tuesday.

"You couldn't see the (property) entrance for the trees. It took us five hours to clear just those yesterday and there's still more to do," Mrs Mendez said on Thursday.

Meantime, Mrs Mendez was having her own difficulties. Driving back from Bowral in her 4WD felt like "landing a plane and trying to keep the wheels down."

Fallen trees and downed power lines over Highland Way, off the Hume Highway, cut access and like many others, she was turned around. A long procession of vehicles travelled back and accessed Tallong via Wingello.

Mrs Mendez finally made it home after several hours. Badgerys Lookout Road was filled with fallen trees, which the RFS was removing. Her husband later helped clear passage for an ambulance trying to reach an elderly neighbour whose oxygen support failed with the blackout. Fortunately, it had a good outcome.

ALSO READ: 'Short-sighted': Aged care developer takes swipe as he withdraws project

On Thursday, Spanish-born Mr Mendez was back teaching equestrian students as a contractor secured house roofing. The property is insured and is awaiting assessment.

Sitting on her back veranda, his wife was still reeling from the storm's intensity.

"I think we're still a bit in shock from it. We sit here and think 'did that really happen?' Our neighbour has been here 30 years and he said he'd never seen anything like it."

But despite nature's fury over the past year, she said she wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

At Tallong Park, RFS member Cheryl Weston said trees fell in the residential estate but it compared well to Caoura, Long Point Lookout and Badgerys Lookout Roads, which "copped it."

ALSO READ: Goulburn Golden Boy Troy Herfoss Returns Home For ASBK Title Fight

"With the fires, COVID and the storms, it's been one hell of a year. I can't wait to see the back of 2020," she said.

Tallong RFS Brigade captain Jack Watling's family has a long history in the village.

"It was by far the worst storm I've seen since I was 11 years old," the now 70 something said.

The council, contractors and Essential Energy continue to repair the damage.

We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.