How are the flooded Aussies?

[judydawn]

It is a worry wondering if our donations will get to where you want them to go but in this instance I feel sure it will, at the very least, go towards the huge amount needed to fix infrastructure which will benefit everyone anyway. It's great to hear from those who are in the middle of it and to learn you are safe - you have all been on our minds but with your problems we knew the forum was not your top priority.  I have a huge respect for your premier, Anna Bligh - don't know what Queenslanders thought of her before this disaster but I think she is doing a wonderful job.  I cannot drag myself away from the TV for any length of time and it is heart-breaking.  Dreadful stories coming out of the area and I feel your pain.  It is going to be a long road back to normal, so much work to do to clean up once the river subsides and I wish you all the very best at this terribly hard time   .  

[meganjane]

The donations are going through Telethon, in conjunction with the Qld Govt, so please don't let that stop you.

I find it appalling that the people affected by the bushfires in Victoria didn't receive the help they needed Lee and hope that your family are able to tell the rest of Australia about this. Perhaps A Current Affair or Today Tonight should be following up on this.

[cookie1]

Cathy, congratulations on your positive attitude, you're a star.

Words cannot express my feelings so I won't even try. My thoughts and prayers are with you all, especially our forum members who we all know and care for. 

[faffa_70]

Today is a very emotional day for me personally, I have been in tears this morning watching the news and praying that you are all safe and can continue to be that way.

My mum goes for some major surgery today for a cancer that was diagnosed the week before Christmas so I may be a little thin on the ground for the next week or so, I really just wanted you to all know that regardless, you are still in my thoughts and for all that my family is going through right now if seems so insignificant compared to what you are all facing and dealing with on a daily basis - probably for a long time to come.

You are all so inspirational with your positive attitudes, it has bolstered my spirits today and I look forward to  bracing myself and moving forward knowing that my family is safe and mostly well!

p.s. I don't want to hijack this thread, please leave it for our fellow forumites who really are going through a tough time and don't know what is ahead of them. I just wanted you to know that you are all truly amazing in one way or another. 

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

It is such a tragic time with the flooding.  The images are so hard to watch on TV.  I find myself giving our children lots of extra kisses and cuddles at the moment and holding them close. 

My thoughts and prayers are with your Mum and your family Kathryn.

[johnro]

The devastation of what is happening in the most wonderful state of Qld has all in a state of shock. However as Cathy stated, we have much to be thankful,  each one of us leaving a message is safe and alive. Our DD1 lives in Brisbane but thankfully her home has not been affected - when you know an area so well it is tragic to see the destruction, but nothing compares to the devastation suffered by those of the Lockyer Valley. The shelves of all grocery stores in Rockhampton are bare, but that is of little significance. My thoughts are with you and your family Kathryn.
Love and prayers to all.

[virgo9]

My thoughts and prayers go to all affected by the floods in Queensland floods. As long as you and your loved ones are safe, then that is the main thing - although still devasting, homes and material possessions can be replaced, but lives cannot.

I love the fact that the forum members are so genuinely caring. I guess every day something is happening in someone's life, and it's good that we can rally together for support.

[quirkycooking]

An old gentleman at an evacuation centre was quoted this morning as saying, "don't cry for things that don't cry for you".

Very true, Snoozie - when things like this happen, it makes us realize what's really important in life, doesn't it.  Hope you and Cathy are coping okay with it all, and anyone else down where all this is happening.  My brother moved house last week, just before the floods - the house he moved to is on a hill and completely safe; the house he moved out of is under water.  Thank God he moved when he did - amazing timing!!!  My mum's just flown down there today to help him and the kids (and anyone else she can help, I'm sure).

[Zan]

It is heartbreaking watching the footage.
And this afternoon when it all seemed to get too much for Anna Bligh was so upsetting as she has been so strong through it.

My dd2 (7) is extremely worried about flooding now (we are in Sydney, I'd been avoiding her seeing footage but we had the tv on at a friend's today) so am hoping she doesn't have nightmares tonight, seeing the images has really affected her.

Hope everyone is keeping safe and with their loved ones.

[natmum]

It is heartbreaking watching the footage.
And this afternoon when it all seemed to get too much for Anna Bligh was so upsetting as she has been so strong through it.

My dd2 (7) is extremely worried about flooding now (we are in Sydney, I'd been avoiding her seeing footage but we had the tv on at a friend's today) so am hoping she doesn't have nightmares tonight, seeing the images has really affected her.

Hope everyone is keeping safe and with their loved ones.

Hey Zan..I was a bit like you about letting my children see it, as my sister was in the Carnarvon floods here in WA and I didn't want my children to see the loss of life..but as the phone calls and messages on facebook kept coming from our friends and family in QLD saying they were okay ..I couldn't hide it from them.
So I talked about it with them and asked them what we would do and take..so this empowered them not to be worried and we would sort it out if we were ever in this suituation...Pray we never are.
We are close to where there are alot of fires so we have a evacuation plan for that.

But I Donated through Coles hoping they would give food or other goods to QLD

[foodiepep]

I think everyone in Brisbane is shattered.

My Hubby has been without work for a month now due to either rain or flooding and we are down to our last few dollars.  I've even had to consider selling my TM to pay for our necessities.  It's humbling to admit it.  We are fortunate that our house was not flooded but we are still affected. 

It sucks that the bakery has doubled the price of bread and fruit and veg has quadrupled just because they can, while other bakeries are giving away their bread for free.  They are the people that when I can afford to I will walk into and hand them money personally.  To me they are the deserving ones as they are opening their hearts and wallets. 

 

[judydawn]

So sorry to hear that foodiepep.  Does DH qualify for the Federal Government's special payments for people who can't work because of the floods? Here is part of an interview with Julia Gillard -

"Today I announce a further assistance measure - this is the Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy. This measure is to assist people who are not able to do their normal income-earning work and get their normal income because of flood and disaster circumstances.

So, to just take some examples of that, it could be a truck driver who's stood down because the mine in which he or she works isn't working because of floodwaters. It could be a small business person, maybe someone who owns and operates a coffee shop and they are in a flood-affected area, their coffee shop is flooded and not working. It could be a farmer who is not earning their ordinary income because they can't get their produce to market because roads are cut.

This payment has been triggered in earlier natural disasters. For example, it was triggered in the wake of Cyclone Larry, and also in the wake of the very devastating bushfires in Victoria.

This subsidy enables people to get income support at the same rate as Newstart, so that is the payment generally available for people who are unemployed. It enables people to get income support at that rate for a 13-week period. The income tests for Newstart apply, but the asset tests do not.

So, this payment is available in circumstances where people haven't been able to access other Federal Government payments through our normal social security payment system."

I do hope you and your family qualify for this payment.  Keep your chin up, I wish you and your family a change in circumstances very soon.

[Zan]

foodipep, (hugs) that is so sad and hope things look up for you guys soon. And so true!

Nat, the worst thing with dd2 was to not say we are more likely to be affected by a bushfire than a flood (we are on the edge of the national parks) but didnt' want to give her another thing to worry about! She is already terrified by electrical storms, found her one night at 10pm huddled in her bed, hugging a toy, shaking, I'd thought she'd gone to bed and missed it but she'd got up, turned on the light and was just staring at the window shaking.
She has an amazing imagination as well as a very strong sense of black/white so it's hard to dispel her fears as she wants facts but obviously you can't be totally honest (yes there is a chance of flood everywhere) etc.
Makes me think of all the sensitive kids who are going through this and how hard they will find it.

[Zan]

Judy very interesting news re the payouts, hopefully they will qualify  - and many others, hope they hear about them.

[whisks]

oh pep, i haven't been here for so long and now i read this - i so hope you and everyone else will be all right. sending you lots of love, xoxo.