Cyclone Alfred: XXXX gives away free beer to storm victims

Amber fluid has helped wash away the woes of South East Queensland cyclone victims, with XXXX coming to the party with free beer.

A free carton of XXXX Gold has brought a smile to Brisbane cyclone victims Donald and Rosyln Smith. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Beer might not be the solution to all of life’s problems, but the rivers of gold have proved an antidote for South East Queenslanders mopping up after Cyclone Alfred.

And fittingly it was iconic Queensland brand XXXX that on Thursday doled out generous helpings of the amber fluid to those doing it toughest.

More than 90 cartons of beer were delivered by the XXXX Beer Can-Van to some of the worst-hit areas in Brisbane, Ipswich and Redlands.

XXXX national sales director Pat Donohue personally handed a carton of XXXX Gold to Donald William Smith, 85, of Carina in Brisbane’s east.

“It has (brought a smile to my face), and I drink it (XXXX) too,” Mr Smith chuckled.

He has lived in his two-storey house in Billan St for over 60 years, and this was the fourth time he has had to grapple with floods destroying his downstairs bar and workshop.

“We grew up in Carina. We never used to get floods; I used to canoe when I was a kid and it never flooded,” he said.

Mr Smith, his wife Roslyn, and their small dog were loaded into a SES rescue boat last week after water levels got dangerously high.

“It was a big drama getting the wife into the boat; she’s not a boat person,” he said.

He said he now has no choice but to stay and move everything important upstairs during the next flood event.

“I’m too old to move, I’m too old to relocate. I’ll probably die in here, they’ll carry me out in a box,” he joked.

Mr Donohue said the day had been a huge success.

“It’s been phenomenal. It’s just true Queensland spirit. Even through the hardship that southeast Queenslanders have been through in the last week, to see one person helping another has been just exceptional,” he said.

“Our job is to give back to Queenslanders. XXXX Beer is a great mate of the sunshine state.”

He said the entire team was deeply moved by a man that had lost almost everything in the floods.

“I knocked on one door numerous times, he came out and looked like he had just woken up,” he said.

“He told me he had been working all night cleaning out his house.

“To see the amount of stuff out the front of his house was just horrible, and then the expression of gratitude and happiness when opening the door was amazing.”

Donald Smith during the 2022 floods