There was no second-guessing where we were going to make our quarterly donation this time around.  At the time we were making our decision, like many others, we answered the call for Australians to dig deep and donate to the Queensland flood appeal.

When I first saw the images of the “tsunami” my first thoughts were, OMG, where is that? Only to read the headline “Toowoomba Flooding”.  Like many I was shocked and in a bit of a state of unbelief, that it was actually happening in our”back yard”.  My next thoughts were, we had just been declared drought free for the first time in ten years and now this!

Since then we have seen many images flash before our eyes, from the shear force of the flash flooded, to cars being swept away, to people being stranded on their cars, animals being stranded, homes, businesses and lively hoods being lost, to the shear devastation caused by the torrents.  As the water recedes the true reality of the loss, the damage done and the mammoth task of the cleaning up and the repairs that needs to be done, is unveiled.

Many stories of heroism, bravery, heartache, desperation and courage emerged; like 13 year old Jordan Rice, with a trembling voice, pleaded to his rescuer to save his brother first, only to be swept away along with his mother and perishing before being able to be rescued.  To the tug boat operator, Douglas Hislop, who, without being asked by authorities, when he saw the 300m piece of walkway floating down the Brisbane river attached his tugboat to it and guided it to safety, averting further destruction. To the helicopter pilot who helped save many lives plucking people out of raging torrents, while his home was being flooded and his family being evacuated.  To the devastating story of the mother –  Stacey Keep,  who held tight on to her baby Jessica, until the unrelenting force of the current weakened her arms and she lost her grip, just minutes before she was winched to safety. And the pilot, Mark Kempton, who unselfishly winched many to safety  when the waters around his home was rising and his family had to be evacuated.

I don’t believe any of us, that were not directly effected by the floods physically, were unaffected emotionally as we watched on TV or on the net, this disastrous event unfold before our eyes. Feelings of horror, disbelief, sorrow, urgency, hope, heartache, hopelessness and more flooded our hearts.

We can not  just be affected emotionally neither should we succumb to the thinking what can my little donation do to help? It’s all the little donations added together that makes the figure become great.

The cost of the QLD floods is estimated at $30 billion by IBISWorld

However we can never count the real cost, as cost is measured in so many ways, monetary, physical, phycological and emotional.  Image the dilemma of the family who has lost everything including the primary income earner and the other not having the skills to earn the same amount of income.

It is awesome to see the great Aussie spirit, not only with raising money $145 Million at last look, but those who have been helping out with the aftermath of this disaster. Flood Aid [site no longer available] is a great place to start if you are seeking, or able to offer, non-financial support.

And as I type this I realise that Victoria is looking at there worst flooding they’ve recorded in 200 years…