General Chat

strewth Tony!


it just keeps getting worse and worse doesn't it?!



thank you for keeping us updated

Hi Sylvia.

I guess theres no pleasing us...!!!

Early last year, and the year before, we were in drought, and praying for rain.
This year we have so much water, we dont know what to do with it.?

Although we are receiving a lot of rain in the lower south - eastern states eg: ( Country Victoria - Melbourne ) during our summer, it is still quite warm, but what i an noticing in my own area ( Melbourne ) is the humidity is very high this summer,( Day & Night ) and this we normally dont get this far down south. The northern states ( North of Sydney and Queensland ) get the Heat plus Humidity.....whereas the south eastern parts of Victoria get the heat but no humidity generally.

Perhaps the Aussie continent is moving North.?

Jude. You were mentioning the Animals.
According to the QLD....RSPCA they themselves are under water, and kind folk have been taking animals/pets to their homes, that live on high ground.
Animals ( Cattle )stranded and isolated on small dry area's cut off by the floods are receiving "fodder" drops.
RSPCA spokesman said until the waters subside, they cannot account for deaths of pets that may have been caught up in the "Flash Flooding areas".......and also our native animals, but have warned us that there will be many that have perished in the floods.

A newsflash just on, has told us that a man who had been seen in an area that was swept into the raging floods.
His body has just been recovered...... 80km's away down stream. Such a sad end.



Tony

Hi Tony

we lived for a year in Melbourne in the mid-70s, and have made several visits down under since then, the last time in 2006.

I still have first cousins who live in Melbourne, Bendigo, on the Gold Coast, and in Hervey Bay ........ plus dozens of their children and grandchildren who are spread out all over Australia.


Plus my oldest (ie longest time) best friend who emigrated in 1961, and who has lived in Mudgee since about 1990 ....... although she is due to move to Ireland soon to live with her sister.

Also count numerous other friends living in practically every state except NT



as you may imagine, I'm thinking of every single one of them



It is so hard to get detailed information from outside Australia .... a 2 minute snippet on the news if we're lucky.

I'm sure the same applies to you when disasters happen in other countries!



sylvia

My thoughts are with all those living or who have relatives in Australia. The scale of the devastation is hard to take in and my heart goes out to anyone caught up in it.

Cath xx

Hello everyone
Friday night 9.40pm

Its still windy, very warm and very wet here near Albury.

All my friends and rellies In QLD are safe, but in need of TLC

I am trying to be calm, hoping they are getting the help they need to clean up.
My sister in Hervey Bay is concerned about the Low off the coast in the coral sea.
Hervey Bay is cut off from Maryborough and Bundaberg. But the airport is still operating.

Annette

Morning Tony and all, this morning I remembered about
the fires you had about a year or two ago and wandered how
you all can get over these disasters. I raise my hat to you out
there for your spirit and strength in these times. Did I see on our
news that the waters had subsided and a clean up was now in
operation? I hope that things will get better for everyone concerned.

Emmax

AS THE floodwaters neared their peak yesterday, the people of Brisbane could have been forgiven for panicking. Fortunately, the opposite happened.

Rarely can an emergency mass movement of people have happened so swiftly and with so little fuss. People rolled up their sleeves and got to work; then sat back and enjoyed a cold beer or a glass of wine in the humid night.

The rhetoric of the Premier, Anna Bligh, was borne out by scenes on the streets of Auchenflower, Milton, New Farm and a dozen other suburbs as the waters crept higher
and higher.

Thousands sat on street corners until the early hours of yesterday morning, mingling with refugees from nearby suburbs and neighbours they had never met.
They watched the sluggish brown tide slowly rise - eerie, a bit frightening, but not the end of the world.

''I don't know if my house is under water or not,'' said Kate Macleod from a footpath in Paddington. ''I live in Fairfield and we were just told the waters were coming and to leave, so I came here. And there's obviously plenty of water here, too.''

Hundreds of beautiful weatherboard Queenslander houses were submerged in historic suburbs just to the west of the city centre.

Yesterday volunteers were hard at work - the organisation managing volunteering said 11,000 people had already officially registered for clean-up duties, but the actual figure would be far higher, because most people just turned up and set to the task.
Often a person in a sandbagging chain would not know the name of the person next to them.

Surf lifesaving crews from the Sunshine Coast were pitching in, ferrying people up and down drowned streets. Dinghies were deployed by amateur sailors to salvage fresh food from soaked shops, and a crew known as ''the sandbag cowboys'' worked until the early hours, dashing back and forth from the state emergency service depots and bolstering the defences of any house they could find without protection.

''We've got a community kayak here - anyone who wants to use it can,'' Ms Macleod said.
After a day of helping strangers rescue their belongings, and quitting her home, she was content to sit on the footpath with a glass of wine and see how far the waters would reach.

''The water came pretty quick. It was rising steadily every hour, so lots of people were helping move furniture out,'' said Daniel Sadler, who watched the levels rise next to the flooded Lang Park in Milton.

''One guy we were with had just renovated upstairs and moved all his furniture downstairs - unlucky. People were helping him float his cupboards back up the street.''

In New Farm, to the city's east, similar scenes were played out. Cheerful teenage army reservists joined the crowd of people sandbagging a Coles supermarket, a Thai restaurant and a bakery. Some sat on the front steps drinking beers and chatting with anyone who passed.


Tides recede

At 4am today the river had fallen to 2.75 metres, from its peak of 4.46 metres yesterday, when 14,972 homes and businesses were completely swamped and 18,025 partially flooded

Bureau of Meteorology hydrologist Jess Carey said the river would not completely withdraw within its banks until next Wednesday.

"The watermark in the CBD is expected at this stage to fall to 2.5 metres by Saturday and Sunday and about 2 metres on Tuesday, before returning to a normal high
tide of 1.5 metres," he said.

"The CBD may be well and truly cleared by Sunday."

Low-lying areas of Brisbane CBD, however, may not be operational until Monday, as electricity sources were destroyed by the floods.
Energex spokesman Mike Swantson said authorities were considering installing giant generators in the CBD until equipment could be repaired.

"The CBD is not healthy at all. It's in need of pretty major surgery," he said.

Six blocks of the CBD this morning remain blacked out, with basement sub-stations still under water.

Residents in upstream suburbs, including Bellbowrie, Jindalee, Kenmore and Westlake, are expected to be among the first to be able to return to their homes to assess the damage and begin the clean-up this morning.

However floodwaters downstream in the suburbs of Paddington, Rosalie, Auchenflower and Milton will be the last to drain away.

At 2.8 metres, only 1200 properties were estimated to remain completely flooded; another 9500 partially flooded. The river is expected to reach 2.5 metres by midday.

"The first properties that flooded are likely to be the last properties from which flood waters will recede," lord mayor Campbell Newman said.

Few residents were able to reach their homes yesterday to inspect the damage, relying on brief reports from those with boats, jet-skis and canoes.

If you had to liken it to something, the smell permeating West End this morning is probably closest to rotting fish.
Volunteers armed with brooms and high-pressure hoses are at work today trudging through the sludge that covers the inner-city Brisbane suburb.

The sound of brooms and shovels scraping along the foothpaths mixes with the drone of water pumps.
The devastation to family homes is most evident in Ryan Street, where brown piles of destroyed household goods, clothes and memorabilia fill the footpaths.

But human spirit has been rising above the devastation as volunteers already covered in stinking mud arrive armed with water pumps, brooms, shovels and sponges
to help out.


The Lockyer Valley:

Searching for neighbours a sad daily ritual

THE first thing Barry Bull does each morning is look for his neighbours.

He lost two of them when the wall of raging brown water tore a path through their small Lockyer Valley town of Postman's Ridge on Monday.

Along Murphys Creek Road, Bruce Warhurst put his family in a car and sent them on their way moments before he was swept up in the torrent.
Just across the road, a concrete slab is all that is left of the brick home of Sylvia Baillie, 72.

Neither has been found.

As one resident said: "There's eight foot of silt in those creeks. they've got Buckley's".

"Every morning the police are up here looking for [Mrs Baillie]," Mr Bull, 56, said. "So the first thing you do every morning is get up and go for a look to see if she's along the creek bank.''

Mrs Baillie's daughter wanders the creek bed searching for her mother.

All in all....Queensland are now going through a massive clean up. The worst case possible scenario now would be more cyclone weather, so can only pray that the weather is kind to them.

Thousands of volunteers are arriving to allocated suburbs around Brisbane CBD.to get it up and running.
20 thousand at last count.

This morning 20 buses ferried 60 people at a time who just turned up with buckets and brooms to help.
We need more buses one spokesman said.

Many tradesmen, plumbers, electricians, builders ect.....are offering there help free of charge.

Community spirit is at its highest.


There are also still many country towns in Queensland that are still isolated by water, and waiting for help. The biggest problem is getting volunteer helpers out to them.

It was also very sad to hear on our news about the flooding and mud slides in Brazil that clamied over 500 lives.

Droughts, Floods, Fires are all part of this Countries natural hazards. Mother nature can be cruel in a devastating form here.....but the Aussie spirit fight back is aive and kicking.

Australia...down under, but not out....:>))


Thanks to all who have added to the thread.


Tony

Its all so awful :o((

My continued thoughts go out to all those affected x

Hasn't been too good in some parts of Victoria either Tony.

Had word from one of my relatives he has been away in Sydney - and had to go back to his home in Brisbane.

I have got quite a few rellies in the Gold Coast area ... well I guess we would eh with over 150,000 New Zealanders living up there.

To think when I was over there last the Murray was practically dry.

I see NZ had also sent over rescue teams to help as they did with the fires.

It seems to be everywhere Brazil with all their landslides and flooding and loss of lives. Sri Lanka - over 80,000 have evacuated their homes.

Now Hurricane Vania is moving south from New Caledonia - heading towards Norfolk Island though I think it is more wind than rain.

I would hate to be on some of those small islands out in the Pacific you never know what is going to happen next. One of the Islands is eroding fairly quickly as it is.

Persie

Hi Tony
I feel so so sorry for the families involved,really horrific stories coming through, my heart goes out to them all.

We've still not heard from friends (have rang constantly they don't have internet)...ironically other friends who live in Byford,nr Perth are experiencing quite the opposite,with a drought and bush fires,which they say were started deliberately.

Thanks for the update
Mau x

Hi Perse.

Its not over by a long shot.

Cyclone season has only just begun for our state of Queensland......and what a vengence it has started with.

Tis the price we pay for being Australian,mate

Hurricane Vania has been forming about 650 kilometres north-east of Townsville,but looks like
tracking away from the coast. But the Bureau of Meteorology yesterday warned the state could expect to see above average cyclone activity until the end of March

This recent Cyclone has flooded three-quarters of the state, reduced its capital to a muddy swamp, forced tens of thousands of people out of their homes, left as many without power, water and food, and punched a $20 billion hole in the economy.

Australia has many inhabited islands that a lot of folk are not aware of, and Norfolk Island you mentioned is one of many. If my Geography is correct there are approx 8200 islands among Australian states and territories, which the state of Queensland has about 1,950 of them.....all tropical.

South Stradbroke Island, which until 1890s was adjoined to North Stradbroke Island, although a storm did split the islands in two.
Bishop Island, Eden Island, Fishermans Island, Green Island, Karragarra Island, King Island, Lamb Island, Macleay Island, Mud Island, Peel Island, Russell Island,St Helena Island, Moreton Island,Fraser Island,Lady Elliot Island, Curtis Island, Great Keppel Island, Heron Island, North Keppel Island, Lady Musgrave Island, North West Island, Tryon island, Wilson Island...........Bribie Island which was cut of from mainland Australia during this latest floods....all popular tourist destinations.

Then you have the Whitsunday Island.( Great Barrier Reef )off Queensland.
Whitsundays include about 74 different islands. Several of the islands include Border Island, Daydream Island, Hamilton Island, Harold Island, Haslewood Island, Hayman Island, Henning Island, Hook Island, Lindeman Island, Long Island, Maber Island, Mansell Island, North Molle Island, Pentecoast Island, Planton Island, Shaw Island, South Molle Island, South Repulse Island, Tancred Island,Thomas Island and Whitsunday Island....to name a few, and many we have spent time on over our life time.

We have friends on Bribie, Russell and Hamilton Islands which are all safe,thank goodness.


Yesterday,these recent floods hit NSW, Tasmania and Victoria, where the Yarra burst its banks, flooding parts of Melbourne, so we are getting a small share also.


We had booked last year to spend our up coming holidays in March to Queensland, as we do each year. So hopefully our small injection of the Aussie dollar will be well spent in our Queensland state. The worst possible thing they need now is for peeps to stay away. Tourism bring jobs for the many.

Hi Mau.

Hope all is o'k with your friends.
They may be away perhaps. Its still holiday season over here, and many businesses and work places are still shut down around the Country, and families are still away. Our kids are still on Christmas holiday break in many states, and not due back till the end of January. Christmas School holidays last for about 5 - 6 weeks over here.

Tony

Tony, thanks for your very concise eview of what is happening in Queensland. I feel much better informed now, and wish I could be there to help the recovery.

My OH and I were talking about the affect it will have on the tourism industry. It is big bikkies up in Queensland.

The Kiwis will still turn up no doubt about that. For quite a few of them here it is the only part of OZ they go to.

Also many go up to Norfolk Island for a few days of R & R... There are a lot of Bounty descendants over here that have places in Norfolk. I would like to go to Lord Howe Island, it looks absolutely lovely so am hoping it stays safe.

Tasmania looks like it hasn't suffered too much - Deloraine is a favourite spot of ours, we always stay at the same pub there. My OH keeps up with the play in Tasmania - reads extracts from the Mercury on line most days.

Take care

Persie

Thanks Tony
I do hope our friends are away on holiday,that is as long as it's somewhere safe. They have sons who live on the Gold Coast,but don't know much about that area.

Mau

Hi Mau.

The Queensland Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast, have not been affected by the recent floods.

Just an update for my own state of Victoria, and for those O/seas that may have friends and/or family in this state.

Dozens of Victorian towns are preparing for record-breaking flood peaks, after communities were swamped by swollen rivers yesterday.

So far 13,000 properties across Victoria have been flooded and 3,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes.

34 towns plus, have been affected by the floods, and authorities say it is the worst flooding to hit northern and north-western Victoria since records began.

A summer's worth of rain had fallen in a period of five days with up to 200 millimetres in some parts of the state.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who has been comforting Queensland flood victims, said she was "very concerned" about people battling massive flooding in Victoria and was expected to visit the area on Monday.

Maryborough received 222mm, Inglewood near Bendigo 216mm, Kyneton 263mm and the Wimmera community of Jeparit copped 161mm in a 24-hour period.

"The flooding is far worse than we experienced in September with four to five times the number of properties impacted," Mr Parkyn said.

More than 1000 properties and in excess of 3000 people in the north to north-west of Victoria have been affected so far with up to 8000 properties losing power.

About 400 properties at Charlton in north central Victoria have been flooded and much of the town evacuated.


Victoria Flood Warning Summary,
Flood Warning - Maribyrnong River,
Flood Warning - Yarra River,
Flood Warning - Dandenong,
Flood Warning - Werribee River,
Flood Warning - Barwon River,
Flood Warning - Hopkins River,
Flood Warning - Glenelg River,
Flood Warning - Kiewa River,
Flood Warning - Ovens and King Rivers,
Flood Warning - Broken River,
Flood warning for Seven Creeks / Castle Creek,
Flood Warning - Goulburn River,
Flood Warning - Campaspe River,
Flood Warning - Loddon River,
Flood Warning - Avoca River,
Flood Warning - Wimmera River,
Flood Warning - Murray River,


Major Flood Warning for the Avoca River
Major Flood Warning for the Loddon River
Major Flood Warning for the Wimmera River
Major Flood Warning for the Campaspe River Downstream of Lake Eppalock.

Some Towns affected by floods
Kyneton
Charlton
Donald
Beaufort
Great Western
Rupanyup
Rochester
Carrisbrook
Echuca
Boort
Creswick
Clunes
Halls Gap
Wedderburn
St Arnaud
Birchip
Wycheproof
Skipton

NEW SOUTH WALES

More than 7000 people remain isolated in northern NSW from devastating floodwaters that have begun to ease.


Tasmania recorded some of its heaviest rainfall, and also receiving the brunt of this last cyclone.

Residents of Wynyard, Railton and Chudleigh in the northwest were evacuated, and several homes flooded.
The banks of Blackwood Creek burst, which isolated parts of Bracknell, south of Launceston.

A dam breached at Castra, near Devonport, forcing the evacuation of a number of low-lying homes nearby, Ms Sherman said.

Elsewhere, a tourist was stranded when a bridge was washed out at Meander Falls, near Deloraine.

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett, who will tour flood-affected regions tomorrow, said the Queensland floods put the situation in Tasmania into perspective.

"While I know it is having a big impact on families, businesses and communities, it is nowhere near the scale and the scope of the Queensland tragedy," he said.

"Having said that, we are dealing with some serious flooding."

Thank you Tony...good to know! x

Thank you Tony

I have just heard from someone who lives near the Murray, in the Echuca region, that they were bracing for a BIG flood


I have been to so many of those places that you list in Victoria



How is Melbourne doing?



sylvia

Hi Sylvia.

The Yarra River burst its banks on Friday as the heavy rain caused flash flooding across Melbourne.
I think what we are experiencing around the eastern part of the County is a total drenching so fast and quick, it is catching folk unaware. The droughts over the years has made the grounds so compact and hard, there is no time for the water to sink into the soil. Thousands of Rivers and streams around the Country all running into each other at some point and at alarming rates causing an almighty gush of water...hence an "Inland Tsunami or "Flash flooding"....racing towards towns and communities.

Most of the flash flooding was in the North sector of Melbourne.

Melbourne's north were warned their homes may be flooded as the Maribyrnong River also rose with recent heavy rainfall. Mainly a precaution with all that's been going on.

Victoria Police said a number of cars were inundated in Kensington, while many other city roads were failing to cope with the intense deluge.

Roads were also flooded in some areas of South Melbourne, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Research, Tarneit and Maribyrnong.

My own local area approx 25kms from Melb CBD ( Outer Melbourne ) had some minor flooding, but nothing life threatening. A few road closures.

Vic-Roads is calling on residents in the areas to be aware of the road closures and avoid unnecessary travel.


Its a beautiful sunny day in and around Melbourne, warm sunshine and blue skies,( 33c ) and if one didn't know what was going on in the rest of the Country further north....you could be forgiven.

Further North in Victoria ( approx 200 - 300km ) its a completely different story.

Strangely.....this time of the year for Victorians and southern states we are preparing for "Bush Fire" season!!!
A complete turn around?

Tony