The Great Flood of 2011

When I was a child, my Grandfather would tell us about a dim memory he had from his early childhood.  He was a four year boy in 1893 when Brisbane experienced devastating flooding.  He lived in the suburb of Rosalie which we are seeing a lot of in the news this week.  Thankfully Great Grandfather and Grandmother lived in a very high house but I believe the Brisbane River rose to about 8 meters which is A LOT higher than this flood.  I actually remember visiting my maiden (great) aunts who still lived there in the 70s and being overawed with how very high that house was!

As this historic week  has unfolded I have been working on one of my Golden Childhood posts that has had the working title of "One Momentous Week in '74".  It is about the week of the Australia Day floods which ravaged Queensland that year, but more about my personal dramas and memories of that week.

So now I am thinking that this too will go down as one of those historic episodes, which generally mark a generation.  As Grandad spoke of the '93 flood and 1918, my parents used to compare to the '54 flood which was huge in the Don River area where they lived and here in Rocky also. My hubby and I speak of '91 when with a toddler and a small baby we were marooned, surrounded by flood waters in our little rural home.

We are country folk.  Our lives revolve around the seasons. I don't feel I need to, nor am I able to write to much about the floods here and the catastrophic events on the Downs and South East Queensland.  I know even readers in the US and other overseas places are hearing about all the drama.  It is on our TV and radio channels 24/7.  We feel a little numb.

We have the refugees back after a week at the Evacuation Centre.  I am glad.  Even though it is crowded and hectic, it is good to have them all here close.  Sickness had broken out over there anyway and some "disturbances" which are bound to happen when large groups of random people are thrown in together. This is a special opportunity to support family and build bridges in our community.  I battle for my turn at the computer anyway, but doubly so with so many in house!  If you don't hear from me.....don't panic!

I have been touched and comforted and greatly uplifted by the people of God at this time.  So many blogs that I read which have posted about the floods have had beautiful, faith filled comments.  How blessed we are to know that the Lord reigns, that he does all things well and that he works all things together for the good of his people.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those in flood affected areas both here in Queensland and further afield.  Thinking of you Jeanne, you have been through it all so recently and now a double whammy. 

The photograph above is taken in Wood St, Rockhampton.  On the left where the trees are is the park where we play often with the grandchildren.  My daughter home is one street to the right but the flood water was 2 metres high at the peak :-(  They hope to get in next week to begin the clean up.