So glad to hear things are -- however slowly -- improving for you guys there!

Stay dry, stay safe, and know you are thought of!

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"It is a rare man that is taken for what he truly is...We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream...." Peter S. Beagle

That would be fun to see. Although a scary ride to be on. It is not surprising that is broke away considering the probable speed of the undertow and and the rising waters.


Hang in there and stay dry.

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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

The river peaked at 4.45meters - 1m lower than in 1974 and lower than was predicted.

However - there is another high tide this afternoon and it could push the levels back up again.

12000 residential properties have had floodwaters on their block of land - about 4000 homes inunated.

Water will receed over the next few days and the cleanup will commence.

The much-maligned water grid that was set up in need for drought will now be used to ensure that Brisbane, Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley keep getting clean drinking water.

People around Brisbane are now rallying for the cleanup - the Lord Mayor has asked for for anybody with a water tanker, bobcat, front end loader to contact his office to arrange for deployment for cleanup. (right - now I know I've worked for Emergency Services too long - talking about deploying things!)

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"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart

The stories that are coming out of our north-eastern neighbour are just heartbreaking.

All I can say is that it's times like these that I am truly proud of being Australian - the donations are just coming in left, right and centre and from people who can barely afford to live week to week (the socio-economic area in which I work is one of the poorest in Adelaide). They are giving what they can, and promising more when they have it - and you can see they mean every word.

We are the lucky country - but not for our sweeping plains, endless beaches or our laid back lifestyle.

It's the people.

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Exaggeration misleads the credulous and offends the perceptive. ~Eliza Cook

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To be or not to be a gatchamaniac - that's the dilemma!

quote:

Originally posted by Crescent_Moon 300m (1000 feet!) of this floating walkway just broke free and is floating down the river. Crazy.

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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

Some good news.. the company I work for, one of the largest supermarket brands, are taking donations through the registers.

Earlier today, they announced they will be matching dollar for dollar all customer contributions. 1.5 million so far and the money just continues to roll in.

It won't replace loved ones, but it will help rebuild homes and lives.

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Exaggeration misleads the credulous and offends the perceptive. ~Eliza Cook

CM, you have no idea how proud I am of my company... They've also sat down with our major competitor and worked out the twenty most needed items - then arranged to have the airforce help them get a shipment through.

But... in saying that - I'm not really surprised. Our own people have been hit by this - from local stores to our National Payroll office. Hell, my own area manager is a banana bender with friends and relatives severely affected.

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Exaggeration misleads the credulous and offends the perceptive. ~Eliza Cook

Banana Bender is a slang term for a Queenslander. Comes from the fact that we have a major banana growing industry up here, and that Queenslanders must all have jobs putting the bends in bananas (banana benders).

This weekend, volunteers are mobilising to cleanup suburbs - they basically start at the first house in the street and then work their way down.

The army is out there as well.

I am so proud to be a Queenslander right now. 75% of the state is disaster declared, outback towns like Dirrinbandi will be isolated until March (helicopter drops of supplies) and even in Brisbane, you can't get from Brisbane to Ipswich because the major roadway has been cut. Some Brisbane suburbs are still completely isolated (Moggil, 10K from the center of town is completely isolated).

And yet, when a call was put out for volunteers to turn up and register to go help (we have 5 marshalling points here), there are too many!

Charities have asked people to stop making goods donations. Queenslanders are still making donations of money - even those affected are donating.

Our Premier (who has just been an amazing, incredible superwoman of a leader through all this) has it right when she says we breed them tough here. Tough, and compassionate it would seem.

And with a very wicked sense of humour.

One of my favorite Facebook pages that was set up is "Brisbane is flooding, everybody grab your sham wows - we have a city to save".

SOme wags went to Suncorp Stadium (which went under water) and, on a statue of one of famous rugby league players put floaties, goggles and a snorkel.

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"When I'm old, I don't want them to say of me, "She's so charming." I want them to say, "Be careful, I think she's armed." -G. Stoddart