IT was just hours before her wedding when Melissa Robson heard metal crunching, bolts popping and felt gyprock dust sprinkling on her face in the room where she planned to marry on Saturday.
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The bride-to-be looked up in despair as strong winds partially ripped off the roof of Wanda Surf Life Saving Club.
She was left standing with her mouth wide open and clutching a handful of decorations.
‘‘It was five seconds of pure horror and the wind was blowing such a gale we didn’t know if we were going to be taken with the roof,’’ Mrs Robson said.
Sutherland Shire’s State Emergency Service unit received 84 requests for assistance for fallen trees, damaged roofs and minor flash flooding following the weekend’s wild storms.
Mrs Robson spoke to the Leader an hour before leaving for her honeymoon yesterday and described the ordeal as ‘‘horrific’’.
The Bonnet Bay bride was putting up last-minute decorations in the club because wild weather had spoiled her plans to marry in Darook Park, overlooking Gunnamatta Bay.
She said she had just got down from a ladder and was looking proudly at the room with her father and sister when the roof peeled back.
Cronulla firefighters evacuated the building but Mrs Robson said her family refused to leave until they had taken down all the decorations.
‘‘It was hopeless — it was 10.30am and I had nowhere for a ceremony or reception,’’ she said.
‘‘I was totally shell-shocked and for about an hour I thought I was beaten.’’
She said at this point she decided to ring her fiance Steve Robson, who was still asleep in bed.
But it was a phone call from her brother-in-law Richard Searle that turned the day around.
The Cronulla Sailing Club overlooking Gunnamatta Bay does not usually hold functions but after Mr Searle explained the bride’s predicament, members rallied together.
‘‘When Rich came through we were all on fire and it just took on a life of its own. I know it sounds corny but when family chips in it is unbelievable what you can do,’’ she said.
As Mrs Robson was getting her hair and make-up done the sailing club’s Rear Commodore Mark Brady and Commodore Bruce Swane became event co-ordinators.
‘‘We got in touch with the board and somehow pulled a rabbit out of a hat,’’ Mr Brady said.
‘‘It really was quite a scene but it was all good fun,’’ Mr Swane said.
The caterers were called to set up at the sailing club instead of the surf club as had been planned.
Mrs Robson said she, husband Steve and their six children enjoyed a beautiful outside reception with no rain.
‘‘It was the best night of our lives. It was just such a beautiful venue and so amazing,’’ she said.
‘‘We really want to thank everyone so much for doing everything they did to make it happen.’’
The couple was looking forward to enjoying an uneventful five-day honeymoon at Shoal Bay.
CLUB COUNTS THE COST
Wanda Surf Life Saving Club was in lockdown yesterday as engineers surveyed the damage caused by the winds that partially ripped off its roof on Saturday.
The ceilings were crumbling, the carpets were soggy and the peeled-back roof was resting unattached on the western side of the club on Monday afternoon.
Club president Anita Pryke said she was waiting to hear from engineers and insurance assessors about what to do next.
‘‘We are very depressed about our poor broken surf club but the good thing is nobody was injured,’’ Mrs Pryke said.
She said firefighters, SES volunteers and Sutherland Shire Council helped save all the memorabilia stored in the Founders Room, which lost its roof.
Persistent wind and rain throughout Saturday and Sunday meant it was too dangerous for crews to secure a tarpaulin over the building, resulting in increased water damage.
‘‘The ceilings have collapsed in the Founders Room and the water has seeped through the concrete floor to downstairs. And the roof is just sitting up there still and not attached to anything,’’ Ms Pryke said.
She said she hoped Fitness First would reopen by Tuesday and the club was doing its best to reopen the kiosk.
Nippers would still be able to access all equipment they needed on the ground floor of the clubhouse for the NSW Junior Surf Life Saving Championships this weekend. (Read more in Sport).
She said Sutherland Shire Council was expected to cut up the roof and remove it with the help of a crane on Tuesday.
Have you had a similiar experience while organising a big celebration?
