A pub owner who was among a handful of Australians from flood-hit states included on a royal video call with Prince William says he initially thought he was being pranked by a mate.
The Prince of Wales hosted the catch-up last night in what was described as a "heartening but heartbreaking" chat with those from the front line of the nation's flooding crises.
Five Australians were selected: Shepparton small business owners Daniel Cleave and Curtis Arthur, NSW State Emergency Service member Grace Langlands, Nindilingarri Health Service CEO Maureen Carter, from WA's Kimberley region, and Overland Corner Hotel owner Brad Flowers, from SA.
During the call — a small extract of which was released on the Prince of Wales' YouTube channel — the prince asked each about their experiences, and offered words of encouragement and reassurance.
"You've got people like you guys looking out for each other and supporting each other, that's what really matters. You're getting everyone through it," he said.
"Please make sure you're looking after yourselves and those in your communities who need it, because some people will be suffering in silence and I just want to make sure you're looking out for yourselves as well as each other."
Each of the participants shared stories about what they had confronted in recent days and weeks, with Mr Cleave and Mr Arthur describing delivering food and supplies in a canoe.
"The only way I can describe it is walking into a war zone — just the amount of force, and cars on top of cars, and just never actually realising the power behind water and the damage it can create," Ms Langlands said.
"We're a resilient lot, and I think we'll get through," Ms Carter added.
'There's a schnitzel waiting for him'
Mr Flowers — who remains cut off by floodwaters from his historic pub at Overland Corner in SA's Riverland — deeply appreciated the chance to talk about the ongoing crisis.
But he said he initially almost dismissed the opportunity as a "mate of mine" pranking him.
"I was lucky enough to receive a call which I thought might have been a prank call but it was from the governor-general's office," he said.
"They said the prince was really interested in reaching out, communicating and touching base with a couple of people in Australia who have been affected by the floods.
"When I opened up the laptop and Buckingham Palace was calling … I thought, 'Hang on, this is a little bit more serious'.
"It's not every Friday night you get to sit back and have a video chat and a beer with the prince."
Mr Flowers said the call lasted about 40 minutes — but he wasn't the only member of his family to be granted an audience with the future king.
"My son snuck into the room I was sitting in and slowly edged his head into the camera shot, the prince was laughing at the fact I kept pushing him away," he said.
"He then said g'day and had a bit of a chat with him and introduced himself, so that made his day."
Neither a staunch republican nor an ardent monarchist, Mr Flowers said that "after chatting last night, I like to say I'm a bit of a royalist".
"I made sure to tell him there's a schnitzel and a beer waiting for him and he assured me that when he was down in Australia he'd make the time," he said.
"As long as he comes for that schnitzel and beer, he's won me."
NSW flood volunteer says conversation was 'awesome'
Grace Langlands – a volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service in Orange — was one of the five people who spoke to Prince William on Friday.
She said speaking with the prince was a "surreal" experience, after she was asked to take part in the call by her zone commander last week.
"I was fortunate enough to represent not only SES but what's been happening with NSW in this conversation," she said.
"To actually talk to Prince William was wonderful."
Ms Langlands said she told Prince William about the huge impact of the floods, especially in Eugowra, where she was sent for her first flood rescue.
She said she was still processing the fact that she had spoken directly to the Prince of Wales.
"It was quite surreal. It was something I never expected that I would be doing in my lifetime, let alone telling my friends, my family, my workmates."
Ms Langlands said Prince William really listened to everyone.
"It was like talking to a friend over the internet," she said.
"A conversation between mates, having a conversation about something devastating but being able to build each other up as well.
"It was an awesome experience to have, to have someone listen to you and talk to you like you are their equal."
