FULL LIST: Unsung heroes of the Ipswich floods

As devastating floods inundated homes and businesses across Ipswich, a community of people banded together to support their neighbours. From generous business owners to boaties, these are our unsung flood heroes. SEE THE LIST

Floodwaters and wild weather are continuing to wreak havoc across Ipswich, inspiring local legends to help their community any way they can — providing food, clean-up assistance, furniture, and even transport by tinnie to those affected.

FULL LIST: The unsung heroes of the southeast Queensland floods.

The Queensland Times has compiled a list of some of the region’s most generous residents and businesses.

BIG PAPPA’S PIZZA AND SPARE RIBS

Camira pizza shop Big Pappa’s Pizza and Spare Ribs staff are doing their bit to help flood-affected residents by providing them with free food.

“As a means of doing our part as a local business, we would like to offer free meals to residents who have been affected by rising flood waters,” the shop posted online on Sunday.

“We would also like to offer free meals to our local SES crews and emergency workers who have been working tirelessly around the clock to ensure the safety of all of us.”

CLINT BORGHARDT, CLINT’S FARM FRESH PRODUCE

Clint Borghardt and the team at Clint's Farm Fresh Produce. Picture: David Martin / Facebook

The team at family-run fruit and veg shop Clint’s Farm Fresh Produce prepared free boxes of fruit for those doing it tough amid the recent floods.

This generosity came despite the fact owner Clint Borghardt was himself impacted by the wild weather — his shop at one stage submerged in water.

In a post shared to Facebook on Wednesday, Mr Borghardt stated there was still a “massive clean up” ahead before the shop could reopen.

Some of his shop’s equipment, including three new gazebos, was recently stolen while left to dry out. He asked that the local community be on the lookout for anyone trying to sell gazebos in the coming days.

Queensland Police have since announced they are cracking down on opportunistic thieves targeting vulnerable businesses and people during the flood crisis.

CRAIG HORSFALL

A Goodna resident who is due to move in the next week, Craig Horsfall, has furniture and clothing that he is hoping to give to someone who truly needs it.

“This will include a small display cabinet, (a) small up freezer like a bar fridge, two wardrobes, a box of unused drinking glasses, (a) lawnmower and weed eater, and a range of clothes men’s, (women’s) and kids’,” he said.

Mr Horsfall said his parents have been residents of Goodna since 1972 and he grew up in and loved the area himself, so he wanted to give back to his community.

ESSENCE OF INDYA

Essence of Indya provided more than 400 meals to people in need, including flood-affected residents and emergency workers, over three days. Pictures: Supplied

The team at Ipswich Indian restaurant Essence of Indya provided more than 400 meals to the makeshift evacuation centre at Ipswich Showgrounds over just three days — all while dealing with floodwater inundating their own homes.

“(We are) working as one and using the opportunity to help our people as much as we can by changing our kitchen into (a) community kitchen,” the restaurant shared to Facebook on Sunday.

“(We have) provided 100 lunch boxes to the evacuation centre and 50 boxes to SES people today. Will be providing dinner boxes to the evacuation centre tonight.”

Assisted by a number of volunteers, the team has since provided an additional 250 meals to people in need.

Restaurant owner Siddharath Tripathi said that when he and his business partner and chef Chandan Chaudhary were not preparing food, they were emptying their home which was “under water”.

“We understand the situation of everyone and want to step up for community and we always get so much love and support from Ipswich community,” Mr Tripathi said.

GREG HANRAHAN, JADE WARREN, DANIEL DU TOIT

Two men who offered up their tinnies, and a third man who opened up his property, are being called 'true legends' by members of the Karalee community. Picture: Simone Rees / Facebook

Two very kind men, Greg Hanrahan and Jade Warren, offered trips across floodwaters to Karalee residents so they could collect supplies this week.

A third man, Daniel du Toit, offered residents a lift from the tinnies to the shops and back.

“We cannot thank you enough,” a Karalee resident stated on Facebook.

“This gentleman’s kind generosity warmed our hearts. We needed essentials as (we were) running out of food, medication for myself, and epipen for my daughter.

“Thank you, what an amazing community we have!”

MORGAN WILKINS, DOMINO’S PIZZA

Morgan Wilkins and Dav from the Ipswich Domino's Pizza with free lunch for a family. Picture: David Martin / Facebook

This week, Morgan Wilkins from Domino’s Pizza provided free pizza to anyone who brought a bag of labelled clothing for flood victims to any Domino’s Pizza store in the Ipswich region.

“Morgan Wilkins is always here for the Ipswich community,” a woman shared to Facebook.

“Not only here for the community through the floods, but was there for the community when Covid-19 hit us in 2020. Very much a community leader!”

SCOTTY DUNN, JONATHAN MCNICOL

Local legend Scotty Dunn. Picture: Facebook

Two kind strangers helped distressed Karana Downs resident Joy Remaly this week when water began to infiltrate her home through the roof and fill her light bulbs.

She was alone at the time and called both the SES and RACQ, but was told she was unreachable and a ‘sitting duck’.

Meanwhile, “absolute legend” Scotty Dunn shared a post to his local Facebook page offering to tarp people’s roofs.

“We (and half of Karana Downs) messaged him and the man helping him (Jonathan McNicol) and he and his little army got to my mother’s and tarped her roof and many others,” Ms Remaly’s daughter Wendy Rule-Hallawell said.

“She was so especially grateful and so many more in her situation.”

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