How Moreton Bay prepares to welcome 20,000 festival goers after floods

A community from a small area north of Brisbane has shared just how much the devastation from the 2022 floods scarred the town as they look to bounce back finally.

People trapped in their homes for weeks, others kayaking down the main street to get supplies.

The emotional scarring from two destructive floods last year will never be forgotten by residents from a quiet town north of Brisbane.

The destruction from the floods saw Dayboro’s main street and the bridge over Terrors Creek submerged in early 2022 as the area received more than 625mm of rain between February 25-28.

Only months later in May, the area was hit with more than 400mm in a week, again forcing locals to scramble to protect their homes, businesses and livestock.

Silverwood Cafe owner Jess Griffiths had just finished renovating and expanding her cafe four weeks before the intense February flood happened.

She was faced with a damage bill of $80,000, was not insured because the business is located in a flood zone, and to be approved for a recovery grant, Mrs Griffiths had to purchase her the items again and wait to be approved.

Silverwood Cafe owner Jess Griffiths suffered a $80,000 loss when her business flooded in February last year. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

When Mrs Griffiths came with her husband to inspect the damage at the end of February, she broke down and questioned reopening.

“There were a lot of people who had sheds and homes go under and were stuck,” she said.

“One of the ladies here couldn’t get out of her house for three weeks.

“People were kayaking supplies up the street.

“We opened the door, it was just mud and debris, it was just horrible.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Located in the same business complex at 38 Williams St, Woodside Ceramics owner Bryan Wood saw a foot of water sweep through the shop and his car become submerged and written off in “a matter of minutes”.

All of this happened while he raced down the mountain into town to check the flood damage.

Woodside Ceramics owner Bryan Wood. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

“It just hit so quickly,” Mr Wood said.

“By the time I parked, got into the shop, I realised how bad it was and it was too late to move the car anywhere.

“It was literally two minutes before the car got submerged.

“We were lucky to have the furniture off the ground because there was a mezzanine.

“For me it was more of a personal loss because most of the furniture was saved, it was a case of cleaning the shop out.

“I lost $20,000 on the car.”

Silverwood Cafe flooding in February, 2022. Picture: Contributed

While the May flooding event was considerably less damaging to their businesses, both Mr Wood and Mrs Griffiths said the floods were a kick in the guts as local businesses had just finished grappling with Covid-19.

“As soon as it starts raining you get anxious,” Mrs Griffiths said.

“There’s nothing you can do about it, you’re at the mercy of the weather.

“I wish something could be done about the creek.

“Everyone’s tanks and dams were full so all the usual pockets that usually catch water.

“You just knew something was coming.”

The main street of Dayboro, Williams Street, was underwater for several days. Picture: Richard Walker

Mrs Griffiths permanently keeps sandbags at the cafe, located precariously next to the Terrors Creek bridge on the town’s main street.

Without the help of locals, Mrs Griffiths said she doubts she would’ve ever reopened after the February floods with 30 to 40 people arriving to help clean up the cafe.

In fact, Mr Wood said a crowd of locals joined the local fire service in a systematic clean up of local shops.

Now the Dayboro District Progress Association Inc (DDPAI) is working to put on the Dayboro Day Festival and Antiques and Collectables Fair for the first time in three years.

The festival, which has been cancelled for three years due to the floods and Covid-19, is expected to bring 20,000 visitors to town.

Woodside Ceramics owner Bryan Wood, Silverwood Cafe owner Jess Griffiths and Dayboro Progress Association member Kaela Boulter. Picture: Aaron Goodwin

DDPAI marketing and promotions co-ordinator Kaela Boulter said the festival would provide a needed lift economically and emotionally after three years of “germs and mud”.

“A lot of people come from out of town to see how awesome it is here,” she said.

“We have to raise a lot more money this year to get it off the ground.

“We’re taking a gamble to go out and get sponsorships from local businesses, to help prop it up, as there’s no money in reserve from previous years.”

The hope of the 2023 Dayboro Day Festival is to provide a morale and financial boost for the Dayboro community. Picture: Contributed

The festival on May 28 will see traffic on Williams Street closed, making way for 170 stalls from businesses across Moreton Bay as well as a street parade, pineapple and pie eating competitions, kids rides, live music, entertainment and possibly scenic helicopter rides.

Head online to keep updated on the Dayboro Day Festival and Antiques and Collectables Fair 2023.