Qld Governor Dr Jeanette Young visits Gympie region

The newly-appointed Queensland Governor and former chief health officer has visited communities devastated by last month’s floods as part of her first regional tour in the new role.

Queensland Governor Dr Jeanette Young has visited the communities worst hit by last month’s floods during her first regional tour since she was sworn in last November.

It comes as towns west of the Gympie region continue to rebuild more than a month after the devastating floods which claimed at least two lives and left 14-year-old Victorian teen Krystal Cain missing.

Her Excellency visited and spent time with locals from Kilkivan, Tansey, Goomeri and Booubyjan on Tuesday, including Ken and Julie Thompson, who saved floods survivor and Krystal’s father Lenny Cain’s life in January when they spotted him clinging to a tree on their property.

The Thompson’s were also the last people to have reportedly seen Lenny’s daughter, Krystal, alive before she disappeared in the raging torrent.

She spent Tuesday afternoon having afternoon tea with a small group of Goomeri residents, including Goomeri Firefighters and Goomeri Officer In Charge Sgt Dave Gillies.

On Thursday, the Governor made her way to Gympie, where she laid a wreath in Mary St’s memorial lane, and visited the Gympie Regional Council chambers, where she met with councillors.

Qld Governor Dr Jeanette Young with Gympie Councillor Dolly Jensen.

Her final stop was at the Gympie Hospital, where the former Chief Health Officer met with and thanked health staff for their hard work during the ongoing pandemic.

She told the Gympie Times on Tuesday she was “absolutely delighted” to have been invited to visit the Gympie region and witness the “sheer resilience and strengths” of the communities after the floods.

“They’re people we’ve got to support more … if we don’t look after our farmers, we don’t look after society,” she said.