That's what residents were asking themselves on Sunday night as another wild storm cut a swathe of destruction through the town.
In scenes reminiscent of the November 1994 storm, a violent wind storm hit without warning at about 3.45pm on Sunday, tearing off roofs, flattening trees, bringing down powerlines and dumping close to an inch of rain on Benalla.
A motorist was taken to Wangaratta Hospital with serious injuries after his car was crushed by a falling tree on the Midland Hwy at Lima South.
Once again the Benalla Hospital was hit hard, losing the roof off its emergency and accident ward.
Chief executive Ray Sweeney arrived at the hospital just 10 minutes after the storm had struck and could scarcely believe the hospital had been damaged again.
Fortunately though, it appeared damage was not as great as the previous storm.
Mr Sweeney said the accident and emergency ward would be out of action for some time.
The weather bureau estimated gusts of wind at the height of the storm at 100km/h with one estimate putting certain gusts up to 150km/h.
Also in the Ensign this week in 1996:
● One of Delatite Shire's top ranking officers, Mark Leitinger, has resigned.
● Janice and Jamie Hill welcomed the arrival of their first child, Courtney Janice, last month.
● More than 140 competitors participated in the Benalla Tri Club's first Lake Benalla Triathlon series.
● The George Ledger-trained Gershwin broke through for his first victory in 18 months at Benalla racecourse.
2011
Benalla Botanical Gardens has been added to the Victorian Heritage Register. Benalla's gardens have been recognised for their significance in retaining much of the original gardenesque layout designed by Alfred Sangwell in 1886-87, and are the only known example of his work in Victoria.
The 5.1ha (13 acre) gardens are owned and maintained by Benalla Rural City, with assistance from the Friends of the Benalla Botanical Gardens & Riverine Parkland (the Friends).
The gardens include splendid rose gardens established in 1959 and several mature elms listed on the National Trust's significant tree register.
In 1988 a seminar on Historic Gardens of Victoria was held in Benalla and was a reminder that our town had public gardens of historic and landscape importance that had become neglected.
The speakers called for a conservation study of the Benalla gardens with recommendations for restoration and preservation.
Some locals who attended the seminar were successful in creating the ‘Friends of Benalla Botanical Gardens’ in June 1988.
Friends members are delighted the gardens have been recognised.
Friends secretary Sally O'Brien said that over the years strategic funding, lobbying and on-ground works by the group had significantly helped successive councils to bring the gardens from a situation of relative neglect to one of increasing importance.
Also in the Ensign this week in 2011:
● Benalla Art Gallery had 86 solar panels installed on its roof.
● Kylie and Daniel Rose welcomed their third child Danielle Rose on New Year's Day.
● Benalla students Rachael Healey, Joseph Koder and Tia-Rae Rawiri were recipients of the ‘You've Got What It Takes’ Weary Dunlop award.
● Local bowler Garry Nichols took out the final of the Singles Club Championship RVBA.
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