Theresa and Patrick O’Toole bought their two-storey Main Street property in April 2010 in the hopes of opening part of the ground floor as a bakery by April last year.

They were well on their way to meeting this deadline, but last year’s January floods changed their plans dramatically.

As the January deluge brought floodwater up to its eventual

1.1 metre peak at the O’Tooles’ property, there was no time for the family to think about their business in progress being submerged.

“It was just a mad rush to get us sorted,” Mr O’Toole said. “We just saw all this water rushing over the bridge and through the streets.”

Mrs O’Toole, then six months pregnant, was confined upstairs with their three children for more than 24 hours to avoid the dirty water downstairs.

When the water subsided, it was clear the business had sustained considerable damage.

The couple estimate a loss of $190,000 through the floods.

“It’s been very hard to spend money where we weren’t going to spend it,” Mr O’Toole said.

But the husband and wife team steamed ahead and fixed what was damaged.

“We just had to move on and focus on what was ahead,” Mrs O’Toole said.

After a whirlwind eight months of delay, the O’Tooles opened the Bridgewater Bakehouse on December 26 and were met with strong community support.

Loddon Shire director of economy and community Bryan McEwan praised Bridgewater locals who were determined to rebuild homes and businesses

“The owners of the bakehouse deserve a gold medal, as do all the businesses hit by the flood.” Mr McEwan said.