Becky and James Haining’s dream house at Twigg St, Indooroopilly devastated by floods
A Brisbane couple spent 10 years trying to own the house that’s been in their family for 43 years. Less than six months later, the home was underwater.
Southeast
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A young Brisbane couple saved up for ten years, to finally own the house that’s been in their family for 43 years only to watch it flood not even six months after settlement.
The house - affectionately known as ‘Twiggy’ - is on Twigg St, Indooroopilly and it isn’t just any house.
It’s the house James Haining was brought home to as a baby over 40 years ago.
Becky and James Haining have been together for over 13 years and have spent over 10 years saving up to buy the house of their dreams.
A dream that got carried away by rising floodwaters - and they do not have any insurance.
On Sunday February 27, not even six months after the house had settled, the couple was forced to leave it behind as they escaped by boat.
“We just weren’t prepared for this at all and didn’t see it coming,” Becky said.
“It’s been devastating and we’re in shock.
“But we’re from a family where we try not to dwell on it too much and instead get on with the job and do what has to be done.”
James’ parents moved into the little worker’s cottage on Twigg Street on June 13 1979, and James arrived on November 22 that same year.
“He was raised there, along with his two little sisters. A long time passed with the kids to-ing and fro-ing, dozens of pets, adopted friends and family coming to stay,” Becky said.
“Our beloved ‘Twiggy’ has been in the family for 43 years and, since we settled on it last year, two generations.
“Twiggy went under water for the third time in that 43 years.
“Our hearts are broken that our dream so quickly unravelled with this turn of events.”
The couple said they were concerned by the rising flood waters but since their street floods all the time, and they hadn’t received any evacuation or emergency messages, they had no idea what was coming when they went to bed on Saturday evening.
“We were just completely unprepared. Our suburb wasn’t even listed as one to watch for flooding in Brisbane on Saturday,” Becky said.
“James was out helping others who were in need with flooding that night. I went to bed feeling pretty okay but James’ father, who lives in the granny flat downstairs, stayed up because of the stress.
“He woke me up at 2.30am in a panic.”
The family awoke to find five police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and SES outside their place. The emergency services were attempting to save a man who tried to drive through the water near Twigg street.
Emergency services located the body of the 34-year-old Moorooka man a short time later.
“That’s when we realised how serious this was getting and how high the water was. It was at our front steps and yet we still hadn’t been given an evacuation warning,” Becky said.
“Around 3am we started moving everything we could into cars and up as high as possible as the water continued to rise with the tide.
“I found some men and neighbours on the street and they helped us move as much of our furniture and belongings into cars and a neighbours place.
“We were carrying it all through knee high water and pouring rain, trying to save as much as possible.”
Despite their best efforts, at 3.30pm the family had to leave behind their cars (parked on the highest part of the street), memory boxes, Becky’s wedding dress, their dream home, and more.
“It got to a point where we just had to get out of there,” Becky said.
“Obviously we’re devastated but we’re feeling okay and at least we’re alive.
“We got out as much as we could and the community has been so amazing and supportive.”
A close friend of the family, Leonie Skewis, created a GoFundMe page for them.
“All donations will go towards cleaning and rebuilding their home,” she said.
In only a day, the community has raised over $7000 for the couple.
Becky said they had no expectation the area would flood.
“I know not having insurance sounds insane but these floods were predicted as a one in 100 year event and the government conducted extensive flood mitigation after 2011 which has, until now, worked absolute wonders on zones which used to regularly flood, even with minor rainfall,” Becky said.
“It would have cost exponentially more to insure it because of the 1974 and 2011 floods.
“When the flood waters recede, we want to get straight back into our Twiggy and start hosing her down and cleaning her up, so we can get back in and on with our lives as soon as humanly possible.”
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