In the space where Forbes resident Dick Sharkey would usually watch the races on the TV in his backyard instead sits a pump helping keep water levels at bay.

As more than 1000 residents in the regional NSW town were on Friday evacuated to higher ground in preparation for its worst flood in 70 years, Sharkey and his family were busy sandbagging their home.

“We’re fighting a losing battle, but we’re keeping it at bay at the moment,” Sharkey said.

The town, located in the Central West region of NSW, has a population of about 9000 people, of which the largest proportion are employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing. The federal and NSW government announced grants of up to $25,000 on Friday for primary producers affected by the floods.

Sharkey, who has worked for Australia Post for 50 years, was still working on Friday morning when his work was called off.

“I went out and did a bit of work this morning,” he said. “The water was just around the tyres but the boss told us we had to stop the deliveries.”

The father of three described the smell of the floodwaters creeping into his home. “It’s dirty, muddy and there’s sewerage in it,” he said.

Sharkey’s house, which they bought more than 30 years ago, has been through several floods – including three within the space of six months in the 1990s. And although it can’t be kept watertight, Sharkey is determined to defend his home.

“There’s a pump on the verandah that’s just keeping the water level down,” he said. “We’ve also got about three pallets of sandbags and are getting more, but it’s only going to prolong the inevitable.”