I write this blog feeling a range of emotions, but primarily as a way of updating my clients/followers who’ve been sending messages of support to me during our Brisbane Floods. It has been difficult to get time to respond until now so this is the quickest way to keep you all up to speed, and to apologise for my lack of contact. We currently have “displaced” friends staying here with us (see below for a snippet of their story) and after a week of doing what we can to help with the huge clean-up, today we are all just trying to get a little rest/regroup and work out what the next steps of support will be.
While we were personally without power until Friday, many others still remain without power. Our house remained dry – thankfully! Sandwiched between two golf courses which fast became lakes we came close to being cut off except for one road out of our suburb (again, so very thankful!) and we all had an anxious wait as the river peaked – waiting to hear how close friends and neighbours fared and what the flow-on effect of this natural disaster would mean for everyone. Our street/neighbours were wonderful. With no power for three days, we would all meet daily at the bottom of our street to share a BBQ for breakfast and dinner as we waited for the river to peak. Luckily fears of levels higher than the 74 floods weren’t realised and in the end, (for us personally) only our warehouse (just down the road from our shop) was affected. We know how lucky we are – so many others were not so. My heart aches for the those in Grantham and surrounds who truly lost everything – their lives…
Sharing stories of close friends who were not quite so lucky…
Close friends Trish & Kieren sadly lost the bottom of their house in Kenmore Hills (Figtree Pocket) but managed to get most of the items with sentimental value up to the second level. Water came right up to just under their 2nd level so they were indeed “lucky” if you could call it that! They are staying with us here now until power is restored in their home, and it’s lovely to be able to help in such a practical way after the initial clean-up. Mind you, Milly (cat) & Boof (dog) aren’t thinking it’s quite so lovely! heheh
Another friend/work colleague – Tara – who works tirelessly for charities all year round (and also has two very small children) had her Auchenflower house inundated to the second level. They managed to get a lot of their belongings out in time, but not all – and their neighbours had to swim away from their home, losing everything. It’s amazing to see first-hand how one house can be completely submerge, the next, half-submerged, and the next, high & dry. Heartbreaking scenes everywhere you look – which just makes me feel all the more blessed on so very many levels.
Another friend’s Toy business (the warehouse) was completely ruined with damaged toys not salvageable due to flood water contamination.
I couldn’t be more proud of my own little family who’ve been doing whatever they can to help with the cleanup – the scenes around Brisbane right now are nothing short of inspirational as thousands do their bit to help…to all of you, everywhere, pitching in in any way you can, we salute you…
This is just the beginning…
For now, we will continue to do what we can to support. I’ll bake for victims/volunteers (I apologise in advance – as a Cook I make a great Personal Stylist, I’m afraid!). It just doesn’t feel right to not be doing something to help when so many people are in so much need all around us. I even feel guilty here, stopping long enough to write this post! I will commence working on a website this week as a way of combining Fundraising Flood Relief with my 365 Acts of Kindness e-Book. The e-Book will now grow to a small website which will enable people to donate to the Flood Relief Appeal. I have a few lovely Twitter friends (Kym & Annie) who will help me with that, so I will certainly be a little busier than normal as I still need to look after my Style Counsel clients in between!
To all the lovely Style Counsel clients (both personal and online) who texted/emailed or phoned to check on me, THANKS SO MUCH. I was very touched that you thought of Big Al & her family. Thanks also to my lovely Twitter friends who responded to countless calls for help and also helped to spread my tweets (and those of others) so that others could get help where we couldn’t be…
One thing we have all learned from this devastation is that there is no lack of human spirit here in Brisbane (indeed Australia!). The Acts of Kindness I’ve witnessed in the streets as complete strangers stop to help others in need, as BakedRelief (Digella & Mel & all the wonderful women) are busily baking for all the volunteers, as people drop off cleaning gear or water, or provide sausages, sandwiches and cooking duties at sausage sizzles feeding others (even though their OWN house is all but gone – Tara!); as families provide accommodation for other families…the list goes on.
There are countless other wonderful Acts of Kindness out there and I will report these on the website soon. But for now I just want to say thank you to those of you who have been so kind to us. Thanks for your concern because of your knowledge of our proximity to flood-ravaged streets all around us. We are absolutely fine and just feel so grateful to be. It’s all just so incredible and inspirational to witness/be involved in – an experience which will remain with us for a long time to come. With so many people not as lucky as us and countless stories of tragedy, bravery, and inspiration all around us, the range of emotions I’m sure we all feel now will not be quickly forgotten, if ever.
NOTE: Jenelle (from Chinchilla) I really hope YOU & yours are all OK? I haven’t been able to reach you as yet?!…
