Community spirit on show as Oxley locals pitch in to clean up

Members of the Oxley community wearing gloves and gumboots and armed with brooms and power hoses have taken to the streets to help their neighbours after Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred wreaked havoc.

Members of the Oxley community wearing gloves and gumboots and armed with brooms and power hoses have taken to the streets to help their neighbours after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred wreaked havoc.

Quang Phan said he was grateful to have members of the community come to his house to help clean up, after Oxley Creek came through his property.

Labor’s candidate for Moreton Julie-Ann Campbell and the clean-up in Oxley. Picture: Tara Croser

“I have had a lot of people, friends, neighbour, and the community come to help,” Mr Phan said.

“The cyclone didn’t cause a lot of damage, but the water from the river kept rising and we got around one metre of water inside the house.

“I really want to say thank you to everyone who has come to help in this hardship situation.”

Quang Phan at his home in Oxley, where local came to help. Picture: Tara Croser

Fellow Oxley resident Adam Beswick was grateful to see the Mud and Ute Army rock up at his house to help, after he fled from rising floodwaters Saturday night.

“I had planned to stick it out but then the water was coming up pretty quick. It was halfway up the driveway and we’ve seen that before, so my daughter persuaded me to leave,” Mr Beswick said.

People kayaking down what would be Oxley Rd, Oxley, on Monday. The suburb had multiple streets under water. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“It only got into the bottom floor, in 2011 and 2022 it was in the upper floor, so we really dodged a bullet as far as I’m concerned.

“We’re very fortunate this time and we have a lot of people out here cleaning up. It’s massively appreciated.

“People just rock up on your doorstep and have a crew, have Gernis, have utes. It’s awesome.”

Police closed Oxley Rd on Monday. Picture: Steve Pohlner

One of the community members who volunteered their time was Brisbane Boys College student Semisi Manu.

The 17-year-old, whose family was impacted by the 2022 floods, wanted to help out due to not being able to attend school.

Brisbane Boys College student Semisi Manu volunteered in the flood clean up after experiencing the effects of flooding when his family’s home was inundated in the 2011 and 2022 floods. Picture: Tara Croser

“I felt it was important to help my fellow locals out after my family were affected in the floods in 2022,” he said.

“Seeing the impact the flood had on my family of nine - seeing the kids’ faces, how everything can change in an instant and you can lose everything - that is why I am helping out.

“I think it’s really good seeing the community spirit on show.”

Oxley resident and Federal LNP candidate for Moreton Henry Swindon felt it was important to join the Ute Army, with his mate Dylan Conway also joining the cause.

“The local council put out the call for a Ute Army, so I am helping out,” Mr Swindon said.

“I’ve seen the water come all the way to the front fence and I’ve seen what happens on this street (Logan Ave), so I knew it was important to do my part.

Henry Swindon and Dylan Conway in the Ute Army helping out following the flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Oxley. Picture: Tara Croser

“I’ve got one of my mates who has a ute and my ute and we’ve just been driving around Oxley and Corinda to see if anyone needs a hand.

“It’s really good to see people get out and help their neighbours.”

Federal Labor candidate for Moreton Julie-Ann Campbell described seeing the community come together to assist with the clean-up as “inspiring”.

“This is my community, I’ve lived on the southside for over ten years—these are my neighbours, my friends,” she said.

“The flooding has been devastating, but the way our community has come together in the clean-up is inspiring.

“In Oxley and across the southside, people are showing incredible resilience and looking out for one another.”

The Member for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh MP and the Member for Inala Margie Nightingale MP were joined by volunteers in the clean up effort across Oxley.

Ms Pugh said it was great to see the community support the clean up effort following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“It’s nowhere near as bad as 2022 in terms of the number of properties inundated, but if your house is covered in mud right now, that doesn’t really make a difference,” she said.

“It’s just about getting that mud out as quickly as possible and also being respectful of people’s belongings.

“It is about making sure the property is returned to the state that they want to see it in.”

Ms Pugh was joined by neighbouring MP, the Member for Inala Margie Nightingale in the clean up effort across Oxley.

“I’m just fortunate that I can be here helping Jess out in her electorate,” Ms Nightingale said.

“It is about being ready and willing to lend a hand to support those in need.

“My electorate is fairly high, apart from lots of trees down, we don’t really have any real inundation in our area.”