Watch: 8yo girl plays water damaged piano for elderly flood victim

An eight-year-old has delighted onlookers including an elderly lady impacted by the floods as residents in a riverside Brisbane suburb come together to support one another. SEE THE VIDEO

Residents in Graceville are coming together to support one another after a week of torrential weather.

Graceville was one of the many areas affected in South East Queensland, with residents still reeling from the devastating flash flooding.

Eight-year-old Grace Dixon is one of the many residents in the Southside suburb who’s doing what they can to cheer everyone up.

A post in the Chelmer/Graceville community Facebook group, about a piano on Nadine Street which have been left out on the street after being damaged by the floodwater, has had an incredible reaction.

As Grace’s mother Mary recounts, the grade three Graceville State School student was eager to help out.

While some keys were too waterlogged to be used, the middle part of the piano still worked, allowing Grace and her seven-year-old brother Fynn to play.

Grace Dixonm 8, plays the piano. Picture; Mary Dixon

“Well I think that our community at the moment is reeling from the horror and sadness of the flood and what it means for everybody. People are feeling really disheartened I think in certain homes and it must be really hard for some people,” Ms Dixon said.

“So when I said to Grace that there was an elderly lady that had had to abandon her piano, Grace said to me, ‘Oh mummy, I would love to play the piano if it’ll make her happy.’ So I said to her, ‘I can’t promise you the piano will still be there, but we’ll go and look.

“We drove along Nadine Street and we couldn’t see it at all. We drove from the boat park side and we couldn’t see it, and then it just popped into view.

“I pulled over on the way to school actually this morning, and we got out and she looked at it and opened it up and a few of the keys were waterlogged and weren’t working but thankfully that middle section did work.

“We kept looking around to see if we could see the lady but we didn’t know if she heard it, but we hope that she could because it really was to cheer her up a bit.”

At the time of writing, Ms Dixon’s post in the Facebook group currently has over 320 reactions and nearly 40 comments in just six hours.

Grace and her seven-year-old brother Fynn. Picture: Mary Dixon

While they don’t know if the owner of the piano, Penny, saw Grace play the piano, they hope that she knows that the community is there for her during these difficult times.

“I hope that she would realise the community heard what she had asked for and that she was cared for, and we’re in this together.

“Even the little eight year olds in the community, even though they’re so small and they really don’t even don’t understand what’s going on in its entirety. Even they know that we all need a reason to smile and to be cheered up.”

The Dixon’s were also impacted by the flooding but are still doing what they can to help out.

The local community also came together today from 2.30pm at Fiveways Espresso opposite Sherwood State School.

Ashleigh Peters has posted in the Chelmer/Graceville community Facebook group, encouraging locals to come together again.

“To an amazing community that has really had each other’s back. I’m really proud to say I’m a local,” Ms Peters wrote.

“I’ve called in some favours and a few local buddies and we will be putting a sausage sizzle, soft drinks and beers to anyone that needs it. It will cost you nothing but your time. Be it a feed, drink, chat, hug or cry.

“Lauren from Brumbys has kindly donated all of our sliced bread.

“Chris from Gordon & Luxton Gourmet Butcher has smashed out a batch of sausages for us.

“My dear friends Hans & Jens from Hillstone St Lucia have filled my boot with 5 cases of beer and 5 cases of wine.

“And Peter from Superior Fruit & Wendy’s Kitchen let me raid the shop for whatever I needed.”