Unsung heroes of the southeast QLD floods: See the list
From surf legends to chopper pilots, pharmacists and even the bloke next door with a tinnie. We take a look at the most memorable moments of our unsung flood heroes. SEE THE LIST
Logan
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They include household names such as surf legends Mick Fanning and the Mad Hueys, right down to knockabout blokes with a tinnie and a willingness to help.
They include household names such as surf legends Mick Fanning and the Mad Hueys, right down to knockabout blokes with a tinnie and a willingness to help.
They cooked hot meals, hosed out houses, ferried the stranded in dinghies, jetskis and choppers.
These are the unsung heroes of the southeast Queensland floods.
GOLD COAST
Mick Fanning
He punched a white pointer shark, so lending a hand in a flood crisis is nothing to this world-renowned surf legend.
Fanning came to the aid of a stranded woman in the Northern Rivers, Skye Swift, using his jetski to get Ms Swift to her pharmacy so she could open it for those in need of medication.
He sprang to action after seeing her post a cry for assistance on Facebook.
“I was determined to make it to Murwillumbah,” Ms Swift said.
Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge
The famed pro surfers teamed up with Fanning to ferry food, water and other urgent supplies to still-stranded Tweed residents as floodwaters slowly recede.
After a Tweed River cruise boat company began running supplies from Tweed Heads to the badly-flooded communities of Murwillumbah, Condong and Tumbulgum, jet ski riders including the surf trio joined in to distribute the goods to stricken locals upstream.
Parkinson and Fanning earlier helped with lifesaving mass rescues on Monday and Tuesday.
Mad Hueys
Ex-pro surfers Shaun Harrington and Damon Nichols and videographer Joel Scott, who started the group known as the Mad Hueys, also chipped in with boat and jetski missions along the Tweed in the past two days.
“If you are in need of rescue along the Tweed River or direct delivery of emergency supplies please get in touch with us,’’ they posted on their social media.
Sam Cardone
She helped co-ordinate a donation collection point for food and other essentials, which were then ferried to stranded residents from Kennedy Drive boat ramp at Tweed Heads by locals with tinnies and jetskis.
“If you want to have your faith in humanity restored then you get involved in something like this,” Ms Cardone said.
WESTSIDE
James Robinson
The “retired’’ Moggill chopper pilot was in agony from root canal problems and flying his R44 with breadrolls falling all over him at one point during resupply missions this week.
When the area from Kenmore to Mt Crosby was cut off, with food, fuel and medicines in danger of running out, the veteran of 17 years in the skies got the helicopter out of the hangar at his Moggill home and headed off to help.
“I should have been on panadiene forte as I was booked in for root canal treatment, but you can’t fly with that in your system,’’ he said.
“It was a bit of Tetris getting some of the stuff in and at one point I had breadrolls falling all over me.’’
Dan Hill
“Dinghy Dan’’ ferried hundreds of stranded locals across flooded Moggill Rd at Brookfield over three days.
The Lendlease construction worker put in 12-hour days but had plenty of smiles and soothing words for nervous passengers, which included young children and people with mobility issues.
“I’m glad to help get a lot of people across. I feel for the community,’’ he said.
Tim Kempton
Tim, from Anstead, also stepped up with his tinnie, ferrying more than 40 stranded locals across Moggill Rd.
The knockabout Anstead resident said he had ferried at least 40 people by Tuesday alone.
Alicia Rossiter
When hundreds of people were left without power, food was going off in fridges and freezers and the area’s only accessible supermarket was stripped of fresh food, Kenmore Centenary Rugby club stepped in to fill the breach.
Club president Alicia Rossiter led from the front, helping cook soups, burgers, chips — whatever they could.
Mark Kerle
Mark dropped his day job and headed up the new SES disaster management group.
Julie Francis
She led the SES effort at isolated Mt Crosby, co-ordinating supplies and other logistics.
Tim Bryant, Andrew Bray
The Milton pair got out a tinnie to help move household items on Wednesday and again this morning (Thursday) when a rain bomb re-flooded houses.
They also walked from house to house hauling out items.
“People are broken. They can’t do it (clean up) all over again,’’ Mr Brady said.
Emmanuel/John’s college students, St Lucia
Pretty much every student at the two University of Queensland residential colleges was out on Wednesday in crushing humidity, hosing down or scraping mud off roads and floors and moving damaged household goods.
They had no gloves or tools, just muscle power and a willingness to lend a hand.
Rupert Yang
Mr Yang, the co-owner of building firm Image Development, used his know how and equipment to help restore order on Wednesday on one of Brisbane’s worst hit streets, riverfront Macquarie St in St Lucia.
“Our house was not affected so I came out and did whatever I could for those who were,’’ he said.
“We’ve got a lot of generators and pumps so we spent the day pumping out the basements in the highrises.
“They’re half empty now and we should get them dry by midday tomorrow (Thursday) so repairs and cleaning can begin.’’
Wayne Doddridge, St Lucia
The retiree and former Canadian put his hand up to help with two free barbecues organised by his neighbour, local Councillor James Mackay.
He also was at Macquarie St on Wednesday handing out food and drinks to people cleaning up.
“I was happy to do it. When I saw there was a barbecue being organised I called James and asked how I could help,’’ he said.
LOGAN
Shane Kroesen, Christine Richards
Flagstone residents were given a brief reprieve from the floods that have cut off their suburb when a helicopter landed on a driveway in their street.
Chopper pilot Shane Kroesen flew a generator into a flood-isolated property after Southern Cross Care’s Christine Richards was told a dying woman needed power.
Ms Richards called Logan House Fire Support Network, which helped organise the chopper through the local Logan councillor Scott Bannan.
Mr Kroesen made the mercy flight at his own cost after he was made aware of the medical emergency.
A generator had failed and the woman needed power to run the palliative care devices.
In true Logan style, Cr Bannon and Mr Kroesen landed the helicopter on the front lawn of the property, then approached another local hero, “Rachael’’.
She donated the generator and now has a fridge with no power.
Once Scott hooked up the generator, he climbed back in his metal steed and left.
Louie Naumovski
The founder of Logan House Fire Support Network, Louie Naumovski has worked tirelessly for the past week in Logan helping displaced families find accommodation and delivering toiletries, water and food to those who can’t get to the shops.
He visited the emergency evacuation centre at Crestmead and spoke to families devastated by the floods.
He has been helped by Pam from Red Cross who has dedicated her time.
They dropped off water to Queensland Police Service officers manning the Waterford bridge and received supplies from Matt at Bunnings Browns Plains.
Careena Perry
There was a real call for a horst float when the Logan community pulled together late on Tuesday night to rescue four miniature horses at Jimboomba.
Careena Perry helped with the major operation, which was conducted in the dark in a swamped bush paddock on Chambers Flat Rd.
The group finally got hold of a horse float and a boat, then literally floated the miniature horses out of the flooded paddock.
They were taken to a vet for checking and one had an injured leg.
Careena said a fence and padlock had to be broken to get the horses to safety without causing more distress.
Unknown boatie
Flagstone residents paid tribute to an unknown boatie who has been crossing flood waters to deliver much-needed groceries and supplies.
Resident Karan Garrard-Hay said she did not know his name but took this photo of him. “He’s a hero! Thanks if you’re reading. You’re appreciated.”
WYNNUM
Danielle McKeon
Danielle McKeon is the junior president of the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club.
After their fields at Carmichael Park were inundated with floodwater on Saturday she has been there every step of the way orchestrating the entire recovery for the club, which has more than 450 players.
Helping save whatever equipment and facilities she can, Ms McKeon has also helped organise a call to arms day this Saturday for the community to help the club’s recovery.
Wynnum Manly president, Graham Mapri, said she was a “true hero”.
SOUTHSIDE
Desley Griffiths
She is no stranger to helping people in need, including flood victims.
Her Moorooka op shop is a mini community hub and in 2011 partnered with GIVIT to distribute goods to victims.
This time is smaller scale as they have no dedicated storage area, so instead they have been collecting flood cleanup packs.
“We started last weekend and so far we have distributed two car loads, some of it as far as Logan,’’ she said.
“I also have ladies on my books who cook meals for those who need them.’’
Cathy Collins
She has set up a Facebook group, Moorooka Mates 4 Rocklea, to coordinate community-led assistance for people in the hard-hit suburb of Rocklea.
Offers of help have been pouring in, with a big cleanup push planned for tomorrow (Saturday March 5).
Staff at SJK Collective
At least 15 sparkies, plumbers and other staff from the Darra company will be offering their services for free tomorrow (Saturday March 5) across the southside.
Service coordinator and electrician Lincoln Kurucz said their focus would be restoring power to homes.
“A lot of houses have been issued with defect notices by Energex,’’ he said.
“We need to do full tests to make sure they are safe to re-energise so that people can turn fridges and other electrical items back on.
“It won’t just be our staff. We’ve had calls from people wanting to help, even a bloke offering his ute.’’
Dr Kathleen Armstrong
A steady stream of Moorooka residents has been coming into Beaudesert Road Surgery after its principal, Dr Kathleen Armstrong, offered free tetanus shots to protect people before they headed out for flood clean-ups.
The surgery quickly ran out of its small stock of Government-supplied tetanus needles, so Dr Armstrong is sourcing more — at her own expense.
“It’s not even being bulk billed. We’re not charging the Government or patients,’’ practice manager Eva Williams said.
“We just want to make sure people are safe.’’
NORTHSIDE
12RND Fitness members
The gym junkies at 12RND Fitness will be heading to Albion Marketplace on Saturday from midday to help whoever and however they can.
The gym’s owner expected at least five, and probably more than a dozen, people to turn up to lend their muscle power to flood victims.
Georgia Griffiths
The Clayfield resident set up a table piled with food, water, toilet paper and other essentials under her house at the corner of Wongara St and Franz Rd this week to help those who needed it.
She even hooked up a neighbour’s washing machine flood victims could use for free.
“We have had lots of donations of non-perishables and toiletries,’’ she posted.
“Our beautiful neighbours have also put out a washing machine you can use.
“We are happy to deliver snacks/meals or come and collect washing just send me a PM.’’
Varun, The Albion Marketplace
Despite his popular store being affected, owner Varun will donate 100 meals tomorrow (Saturday March 5 to flood victims now that he has reopened.
MORETON
Pumicestone Rural Fire Brigade Team
The crews have been out in the areas of Donnybrook, Meldale, and Beachmere undertaking damage assessments on flooded properties.
Over the next few weeks they will be back again to assist residents hose out their houses and begin the recovery.
Local MP Ali King said of them: “You are, quite literally, lifesavers.”
Craig Schild
Mr Schild, from Addicted 2 Earthmoving, has been offering earthmoving services for free and is behind the Facebook group Helping Hands “22” Floods.
He created the Facebook group, which now has more than 2000 members, as a platform for southeast Queenslanders to ask for help free of charge from community members in a position to do so.
He has spent the last week cleaning up flood damage and helping those in need, along with facilitating others.
“It’s been amazing seeing everyone pull together to help those in need,” Mr Schild said.
“This is what our community does. We stick together and help each other through this.
“We’re all helping free of charge and giving up our time when we could be working.
“I think that says a lot about our community.”
Zac Martin
Mr Martin, from MDS Earthmoving and Civil, has been offering his earthmoving services for free.
He has worked with Mr Schild to clean up flood-affected areas including the home of a Caboolture family of 14.
Murray Watene
He has been working with Mr Schild and has given up work for the week to volunteer his time and skills.
“How can I ever thank the guys enough - Muzz and Zac - with the heavy equipment…. I was so overwhelmed trying to get everything sorted before the next lot of rain and these amazing folk came in and got me up and running again,” one of the people Mr Watene helped said.
Lance Burnie
The Impact Plant Hire employee is another part of Mr Schild’s team.
He also has taken the week off work to do whatever is needed by his community.
Simon Watts
The Hillbilly Earthmoving employee is another part of the volunteer earthmoving brigade.
“Times are tough at this stage due to flooding, so we want to offer a lending hand,” he said.
“In times like this where community’s need to stick together we are happy to help for diesel and dumping costs until you’re back on your feet.
“We have a truck, an excavator and a car trailer for all your needs cleaning up your yard and around your house.”
Kellie Smith
Ms Smith has been using her mobile coffee van Whole Latte Love to provide free hot drinks to volunteers and flood victims at the Caboolture Showgrounds.
“Thank you to the lovely Ladies from Whole Latte Love Mobile Cafe who stopped by the show grounds today and supplied all our campers with a fresh coffee to brighten their day after a crazy weekend,” a Showgrounds spokeswoman said.
Kimberley Fort, Stacey Mattinson, Annette Mattinson
Moreton Bay locals Kimberley Fort, Stacey Mattinson and her mother Annette Mattinson have been busy putting together and delivering support hampers.
Stacey said Kimberly, from the Fisherman’s Daughter fish and chip shop in Deception Bay, was allowing donations to be dropped there.
“I did big drop to major (flood affected) street yesterday and I am heading to Kallangur today,” she said.
They had deliveredupwards of 20 hampers full of food and drinks every day, all of it donated.
They have also been dropping off food, toiletries, teddy bears, and toys for children at the evacuation centres.
IPSWICH
Essence of Indya
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.
Clint Borghardt
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.
REDLANDS
Mel Myors
Ms Myors sprang into action with an offer of soul food for anyone in need in the Redlands.
Beef stir fry and hamburgers would be driven to anyone who answered her generous call-out on social media.
Dozens applauded her selflessness online.
Dave Teuma
Family man Dave Teuma offered food for flood-affected Redland residents.
His online call-out encouraged an outpouring of support and showed true community spirit.
Dozens of fellow residents mirrored his generosity.
Natasha Taylor
Natasha Taylor offered to donate clothes to those suffering loss.
“I’m wanting to donate a lot of clothes to the flood victims,” Ms Taylor stated in an online post.
Ms Taylor even offered for the call-out to be shared far and wide online in a show of true community spirit.
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