Queanbeyan Flood

Before we came to Australia, everyone said, "The weather's beautiful there!  It never rains."  While this may have been true (Canberra at least has been in a 10 year drought), things have definately changed.  It has been raining heaps here at least since we arrived.  The dams are at 100% capacity for the first time in over a decade, and major flooding has been a problem and caused some areas to be declared natural disaster sites.  One of the big areas to be hit with flooding is Queanbeyan (pronounced Queen-bee-an), which is about 30 minutes South of us.  Below are some photos of the flooding and the (must be joke) article that was published with them.

What looks like a river, is actually a road in most of the pictures.  Crazy.

This is/was actually a road.  See the Give Way (aka Yield sign)?

The parking garage at the mall.

Another parking garage shot.  The sliding doors give you an idea of just how high the water was.

QUEANBEYAN FLOOD RELIEF - APPEAL [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Torrential rain hit Queanbeyan in the early hours of Thursday 9 December
2010.
Victims were seen wandering around aimlessly, flannies soaked, woollen
trackies sagging, muttering 'Faaackinell'.

Flood waters devastated the area causing approximately $30 worth of
damage.

Three areas of historic burnt out cars were disturbed. Many locals were
woken well before their Centrelink cheques arrived.

The Queanbeyan Herald reported that hundreds of residents were confused
and bewildered and were still trying to come to terms with the fact
that something interesting had happened in Queanbeyan.

One resident - Tracy Maree Sharon Britney Madonna Smith, a 15-year-old
Mother of 5 said 'It was such a shock, my little daughter
Chardonnay-Mercedes came running in to my bedroom crying. My youngest
two Joachim and River slept through it all.'

Apparently, looting, muggings and car crime were unaffected and carried
on as normal.

The Australian Red Cross has so far managed to ship 4,000 crates of
Bacardi-Breezers to the area to help the stricken locals. Rescue workers
are still searching through the rubble and have found large quantities
of personal belongings, including Health Care Cards, Jewellery from
Kmart and Bone China from Big W.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

This appeal is to raise money for food and clothing parcels for those
unfortunate enough to be caught up in this disaster. Clothing is most
sought after - items most needed include: flannelette Shirts, tight blue
jeans or spandex, singlets (blue & white) white sport socks, Ugg boots
and any other items usually sold in Hot Dollar or The Reject Shop.

Food parcels may be harder to come by, but are needed all the same.
Required foodstuffs urgently needed include: Microwave meals, Baked
Beans, Ice cream, Chips and Fizzy drinks.


Donations of $15.00 will be taken to buy a packet of winny blue 25s
and a lighter to calm the nerves of those affected.