We know we don't have super human powers. We know that we weren't going to be riding in on our white horse to save the day. But we couldn't just sit back and do nothing...
An estimated 28,000 homes were affected by flooding in central Brisbane last week.
The total cost of the rebuild was expected to exceed $20 billion Australian dollars.
Each of the 24 iconic City Cat terminals in Brisbane were somehow destroyed during the floods, with a predicted recovery period of 18 months until they will once again be fully functional.
Thousands of Queenslanders lost their homes, all of their possessions and some, sadly, lost their lives.
It was time for us to play our part and try to make a difference, even if it was only minor. So, we checked Charlie into an undercover secure parking bay and flew ourselves back to Brisbane to volunteer for the flood recovery. And we're glad we did...
I think Brisbane should be really proud of themselves. The kindness that was displayed even by people who were not directly affected by the floods... generously giving their time, money and supplies to those in need. During such a difficult time, it’s so important to help others out wherever possible. Having witnessed some upsetting circumstances for so many people, I’m just so thankful to be a part of such a loyal country.
Out of respect for the people who were severely affected by the floods, we decided not to take many photos as we figured we were there to help, not to plaster their misfortune all over our blog. We managed to get a few discreet snaps.
My brother managed to capture alot of footage of the flood, here is a link to the one that stood out the most for me.
Unfortunately, even when we are surrounded by so many people with hearts of gold, there are those that can only find the time to think of themselves flying their own flag all wrapped up in cotton wool. I know that everyone deals with things in their own way but Tom and I were really put out by the behaviours of a selected few people in Brisbane. At one point, we had teamed up with a small handful of other volunteers to assist with loading people’s destroyed belongings from off the gutter out the front of their house and onto the back of tip trucks for disposal. We were loading thousands of dollars worth of treasured items, each of which had a story to be told by its beloved owners.
I turned red with rage when we were approached by a rather selfish middle aged woman who, by the looks her immaculately presented home, had not been affected at all by the floods. She’d seen that we were loading rubbish onto the back of tip trucks and viewed it as her chance to have some free rubbish removal done. When she had the nerve to ask us to put on hold assisting those in need who had lost everything and help her remove rubbish from her home that had clearly been lying around for a good few years, there was no way I was even going to give her the time of day. Lucky for her, some of the other guys reluctantly assisted and Little Miss Inconsiderate could wash her hands from all of the icky-wicky-yucky-wucky-dirty-wirty and return to the comfort of her pristine home and sit back on her pedestal. I just couldn’t understand how neighbours in the same street as those who had lost everything could simply turn a blind eye and continue on with their day as if nothing had happened. Mowing their lawns, going for jogs or walking the dog right in front of emotionally destroyed people covered in mud, desperately trying to salvage even the tiniest of things. For those people, I just remind myself that what goes around comes around. Lucky for them though, when they are in dire straits they’ll still get the help they need. I just hope that in the mean time, a plank of wood knocks them over the back of the head and they finally get a much needed wake-up call.
My hat goes off to every single person who has helped or will help return Brisbane to the beautiful city it has always been. From those mother and daughters baking cookies to offer to the workers, to the local church groups driving around to hand out cold bottles of water and ice blocks, to the volunteers walking up streets with a mop & bucket in hand, I am so proud of you and I am so proud that we were able to be a part of it and assist even just in the smallest way.
Eventually, Brisbane will rebuild. It’ll be quite a big slog but we just have to keep our spirits high and remember that while losing your home and possessions is difficult, what matters most is the comfort & safety of those you love.
Unfortunately, even when we are surrounded by so many people with hearts of gold, there are those that can only find the time to think of themselves flying their own flag all wrapped up in cotton wool. I know that everyone deals with things in their own way but Tom and I were really put out by the behaviours of a selected few people in Brisbane. At one point, we had teamed up with a small handful of other volunteers to assist with loading people’s destroyed belongings from off the gutter out the front of their house and onto the back of tip trucks for disposal. We were loading thousands of dollars worth of treasured items, each of which had a story to be told by its beloved owners.
I turned red with rage when we were approached by a rather selfish middle aged woman who, by the looks her immaculately presented home, had not been affected at all by the floods. She’d seen that we were loading rubbish onto the back of tip trucks and viewed it as her chance to have some free rubbish removal done. When she had the nerve to ask us to put on hold assisting those in need who had lost everything and help her remove rubbish from her home that had clearly been lying around for a good few years, there was no way I was even going to give her the time of day. Lucky for her, some of the other guys reluctantly assisted and Little Miss Inconsiderate could wash her hands from all of the icky-wicky-yucky-wucky-dirty-wirty and return to the comfort of her pristine home and sit back on her pedestal. I just couldn’t understand how neighbours in the same street as those who had lost everything could simply turn a blind eye and continue on with their day as if nothing had happened. Mowing their lawns, going for jogs or walking the dog right in front of emotionally destroyed people covered in mud, desperately trying to salvage even the tiniest of things. For those people, I just remind myself that what goes around comes around. Lucky for them though, when they are in dire straits they’ll still get the help they need. I just hope that in the mean time, a plank of wood knocks them over the back of the head and they finally get a much needed wake-up call.
My hat goes off to every single person who has helped or will help return Brisbane to the beautiful city it has always been. From those mother and daughters baking cookies to offer to the workers, to the local church groups driving around to hand out cold bottles of water and ice blocks, to the volunteers walking up streets with a mop & bucket in hand, I am so proud of you and I am so proud that we were able to be a part of it and assist even just in the smallest way.
Eventually, Brisbane will rebuild. It’ll be quite a big slog but we just have to keep our spirits high and remember that while losing your home and possessions is difficult, what matters most is the comfort & safety of those you love.
1 comment:
Hi Amy
Good on ya and well said.
I wish we could have just down tools, and come and join in as well, but unfortunately that's the nature of the beast we are in at the moment.
We trust our monetry contribution, just helps in some way.
Cheers & beers
Us
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