Coming from Adelaide, you would be forgiven for driving past Cobdogla — after all, the popular Lake Bonney is just a stone's throw down the road.
The Riverland town's community hub, Cobdogla Club, is humbly housed next to the bottle store, but its exterior doesn't hint at the vibrancy of the people who work behind the doors.
Though holiday-makers bolster the Cobdogla Club, its fortunes rise and fall with the support of residents.
Cobdogla Club manager Emma White says she has worked hard to instil a culture of warmth and welcome — not only in the working staff of the establishment but the patrons and members as well.
"It's definitely like a second home. I think we've created something quite unique. We hope that everyone who comes in feels welcome [and] wanted," she said.
"I think it has created a great community within a community."
While it is the watering hole for the district, in times of need, the club is much more than a place to eat and drink with friends.
During the COVID pandemic, the club became a central hub for residents to remain connected and access information, support and resources.
Now, as the rising River Murray threatens to inundate various Riverland townships, Cobdogla Club is readying to anchor its community against the high water.
Small but mighty community bands together
The town of Cobdogla is small. Last year's census data put the population of the town just shy of 400 people.
But for Cobdogla Club president Ian Chamberlain this is one of the characteristics which sets it apart from others like it in the region.
"Some venues are classed as a footy club, golf club. Here we're fortunate enough to have the golf, tennis, softball, netball sporting bodies. It is their club," he said.
"It isn't one clubs or one persons. I think that's what makes us a little bit unique."
Ms White said it was important to make the patrons come in and feel welcome.
"It doesn't matter whether you're 18 or 80. Everyone is welcome," she said.
"That's not just from the staff members. It is from everyone else in the club as well because if they feel welcome, they'll make everyone else feel welcome."
Club braces for flooding
The River Murray is now expected to peak between Christmas and New Year's Eve, following revisions to the twin peak forecast.
The river is already testing levee bank systems across the Riverland, with thousands of properties set to be inundated in the biggest flood event the region has seen in 50 years.
Ms White says the club's ability to reach the community will become increasingly important during the floods as it was during COVID-19.
She said during the pandemic, the club operated as a takeaway and also shared vital information with those who weren't able to access news or information due to technological barriers.
Ms White said the club became their first point of contact.
"Having customers that weren't having any interaction with other people to be able to come to a friendly place, get knowledge, ask the questions they have [was vital]," she said.
Ms White says the club will play a similar role during the floods, with a friendly face behind the bar.
"It's very important to be able to provide that level of service for the community in trying times," she said.
Focused on the work ahead
The ripples from the rising River Murray are affecting all communities in the Riverland, some directly and others indirectly.
Mr Chamberlain said he didn't believe the club would get flooded, but their customers might.
"I've lived here in Cobby all my life, so I believe we will have problems for the community in lower-lying areas," he said.
"The club won't have water issues because the flood banks will keep that back from us.
"But we will feel it as far as a lot of our members, locals, some of them will definitely get flooded. We will find it hard."
Mr Chamberlain said the club was sure to become the hub of the town during the natural disaster.
"There's going to be people who lose power, and there's going to be people who work on saving the town with flood banks … in times of need, like we have coming up with the floods, that's when we start looking after our volunteers," he said.
"Someone will have to be the hub to provide coffee, tea, and food, and there's where I think the club will have a big part."
