Its been a few weeks since my last blog and I really wanted to write one to try and capture the thoughts and feelings of watching the horrendous flooding on the TV especially having spent two month myself in Brisbane. The flooding started in Budaberg and Rockhampton in Queensland around Christmas time and has slowly made its way down towards the border of New South Wales. I don't think any one watching the flooding in Bundy and Rockhampton had any of what was to come and just how many people would now be without housing and loved ones.

On Monday when the first images of what they are now calling an inland tsunami were shown on the TV here, it was impossible to think how anyone could have survived such a force of water. There was no warning and people were just caught off guard stuck in their cars, walking down the street etc. Toowoomba is the biggest town caught up but amongst that are all the small more rural towns, which no longer exist. Whole streets have now gone and people there are waking up every morning to go look for their neighbours who they can no longer find. There are still around 60 people missing in this area and it might be a case that they are never found. You hear stories of the bravery even from the youngest members of society giving up their lives for younger siblings or parents who threw their children on the roof to safety but not quick enough to save their own lives. It truly is heartbreaking to watch knowing there is very little you can do to help.

I am sure you have all seen the footage on TV but over here we have had 24 hour coverage of the flooding ever since Monday. At this point warning went out to the areas further down river to expect flooding. Brisbane suffered flooding back in 1974 and a contingency plan after this was for a damn to be built further upstream to stop anything like this happening again. This damn is normally at capacity at 60% but by mid week it had reached 190% capacity and if this was to overflow then there really was no hope for anyone. Luckily this was the saving grace that they hoped it would be after 1974 and it didn't burst its banks. All five gates were open which still meant a considerable lot of water heading downstream.

Having stayed in Brisbane with friends I was concerned about them and whether they would be flooded. Strangely enough before I left we had been looking at the local flood maps and we could see that in 1974 the land where their house is was not inundated with water so it seemed that they might actually miss being flooded. Although the rest of the area was likely to be flooded and therefore meant their power was also cut. I have spoken to them a few times over the week and they have had a full house of guests for the last few days from people whose houses have been flooded. Luckily their house was spared as expected but also the water did not reach as high as it was predicted.

It was strange watching the TV and seeing places slowly get flooded. The XXXX brewery where I was a receptionist was completely flooded as well as a lovely old pub called the Regatta hotel where we used to go for drinks. I felt very sad watching the place I had called home for two short months go under water. The stories of bravery make you stop and think how you would react in a life or death situation ? How would you feel if you came to the house you had worked so hard to make home be completely destroyed with all you possession having to be thrown out as they are covered in mud from toxic water? It really is so hard to think about without a lump forming in the throat or tears forming in the eyes.

The clear up in Brisbane is in full flow and my friend is currently manning a creche at the local church so that the parents can go clean up the houses. Brisbane has power and clean water but the situation is not so positive in the rural areas. They have run out of water, have no power and just do not have the resources to get the cleaning going properly. Sadly though there is very left to clean as most houses were fully destroyed.

One thing the water did not defeat and that is the Australian Spirit. Complete strangers helping each other to get the clean up situation to full steam. It really is amazing to watch on the tv and makes you want to go join the clean up operation. Queenslanders not only lost their homes but also their livelihoods as crops were flooded as well. The consequence of this is visible in the shops with food prices especially fruit and veg having increased steadily since Christmas. Unfortunately for those whose houses were damaged the mortgage repayments and bills do not stop and in some cases not everyone has insurance.

As many of you know I have an interest in floods due to my job at home and my degree background but I can honestly say I have never felt so attached to a disaster as I did to this one. I don't know if this is because it has been on the TV 24 7 or just because of the scale of it and knowing people in Brisbane. I have been glued to the TV and spent the week updating my friend via text about the latest news as she was not able to watch the coverage herself as power was cut.

With Australia Day nearing on the 26th January I bet this year patriotism will be higher than ever with many parties to celebrate all the is Australian, whilst keeping in mind the challenges ahead. Flooding is still on going in other areas including Victoria and Tasmania. They have many years of rebuilding ahead and it is estimated to take 2 years to get Brisbane back to how it was before the floods. But one things for sure is that Queenslanders will not stop until it is done and they will do it with a smile on their faces and a beer in one hand!

This definitely is one week in Australia I will never forget!