As in any love story, someone, at some point, ends up wearing their heart on their sleeve. Yesterday, the entire city of Brisbane did just that. While the river settled back into its familiar rhythm, it left its victims and its handiwork exposed for all to see. This first day of the epic clean-up had turned Brisbane inside out.
Footpaths in West End and Rosalie and affected suburbs all over the city were crowded with pyramids of sodden carpets, ruined furniture, blown televisions, wrecked stoves, mattresses, linoleum, timber, lights, toys and, in more than a few instances, the actual kitchen sink. Here were entire dining-room settings sitting by the gutter in the sunshine, with no guests. In street after street, private Brisbane lives were torn open to the world.
Brisbane yesterday was on the march. It was a hive. A busy nest. Its carriageways were congested with police vehicles, fire trucks, dump trucks, rubbish trucks, Army transports, glass suppliers, tow trucks, fuel trucks, graders and diggers on flatbeds, strafed at all points of the compass with flashing emergency lights.
Read the full story in the “Courier Mail”
Four Days That Broke Our Hearts.
All photo’s here at the Courier Mail Picture Gallery, there are larger versions of the photo’s above in amongst these pictures. Some photo’s may be disturbing.
This is a fantastic video by Reporter Rodney Chester from the Courier Mail he finds the Queensland spirit alive and well in Brisbane’s Bellbowrie, it is a very good look at the human side of these floods, very sad, but well worth watching.
It’s a credit to everybody that is helping in this terrible time, so many people pitching in, strangers are helping strangers, a lot of heroes have emerged out of this crisis, everyday we hear so many story’s of people risking their own lives to try to save others, and of course we have heard the tragedies as well. There are still people missing and searches are still going on, a terrible task to undertake but it has to be done. Of course it is just not the people of Brisbane but the same thing is happening right around Queensland, everyone is pitching in where they can, even people who have lost everything are also helping others out, this will see new friendships born and people who will never be forgotten.
Magsx2's Blog 
It will take awhile before Brisbane looks like it should I do not know how I would cope if I was affected but most people do not know how strong they are till they have to be.
Hi Jo-Anne,
How very true, it is amazing the way everyone has banded together, there is just so much to do, but everyone is just getting in there and doing whatever they can. Trust me if you stood back and took a look like in the pictures above, you would think it’s just too much, but no one is doing that, no standing back, just grab the shovel for the mud, or the bins for the rubbish, and just go in and start.
Unlike so many others around the world, not having a victim mentality goes a long way.
Hi bingbing,
You are so right, all we really want to do is try and get as much cleaned up as humanly possible, I even saw a child maybe 10 years old, in long rubber boots, gloves that were a bit big for him, carrying a bucket with a bit of rubbish in it, he had such a determined look on his face, you just had to smile.
Hi magsx2, We’ve always been battlers here in Queensland. Anna Bligh has gone up in everyone’s estimation during this crisis, with statements like “our hearts may be broken, but not our will” and “they may knock us down, but, as Queenslanders, we get up again and carry on”. Queensland first competed in the Sheffield Shield (Australian interstate cricket competition) in 1926 – it took till 1994 till we won our first Shield (we have won it a further 5 times since). We (the state of Queensland) were always beaten in Rugby League by New South Wales, who fielded teams made up of Queenslanders who had gone to Sydney chasing the money. Since “State of Origin” was instituted, it has been a different story. The current situation is not a sporting game, but this Queensland spirit is carrying us forward. Julia Gillard was in Townsville last night to see the Townsville Crocodiles win over the Melbourne Tigers (Basketball) and see $60 000.00 raised by those present towards the Premier’s Flood Relief Program.
Hi malc50,
You are spot on. Queenslanders do have a lot of spirit and it really shows when something goes wrong. But I must say, it also shows in other states of OZ as well. The fires that they had in Victoria, everyone banded together there as well, and the countless other things that have happened here in OZ over the years, everyone seems to get in and do whatever they can.
That’s great about the Flood Relief Program, so many people are really doing it tuff before these floods hit, yet people are still able to find something that they can give. It really is a credit to everyone.
I have been very impressed by the number of volunteers and the overwhelming sense of community that has emerged from this tragedy. It really is wonderful. I love seeing people coming together.
Hi Selma,
It is wonderful, it’s great so many people are getting in there and helping.
It looks overwhelming from a distance, but clearly it will all get done. Another reminder that our stuff is temporary, and all we really have is each other.
Hi bronxboy 55,
It is very overwhelming, and as more water slowly disappears, it is more so. Yes having each other is a lot more important.