Savannah on the Reef country music event for community heroes

The Reef Magic pontoon is the unique venue for a country music concert and celebration for 100 community heroes from throughout the country, including some remarkable Far North flood heroes.

As water rose rapidly at Holloways Beach on that fateful Sunday last December, Trinity Beach man Baden Le Sueur and his doctor father Gavin Le Sueur jumped into wetsuits to help elderly people stranded in their homes.

Mr Le Sueur was staying overnight with his parents because the boat he lives in at Bluewater Marina is not airconditioned and it was a stinking hot day.

As the rain pelted down, the family saw online that people were distressed about elderly residents and the father and son jumped into action.

Claudie Wiegel, who helps the homeless find accommodation as a social worker and her partner Anthony Serra, and flood hero Baden Le Sueur, who helped Holloways Beach residents in December's flood, are among 100 heroes selected to attend the concert on the Reef Magic pontoon. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Le Sueur is among 100 community heroes whose efforts have been recognised with a trip to the Reef Magic Pontoon for Savannah on the Reef – featuring high profile country music stars including Lee Kernaghan, on Saturday.

“Mum and dad’s place turned into an island, luckily, but dad was seeing a message from the daughter of an old lady who was not answering her phone,” Mr Le Sueur said.

He and his father helped the frail woman walk through chest deep water to safety, and helped others.

Then Mr Le Sueur jumped on his stand up paddleboard and headed out to help where he could.

His efforts included rescuing chickens, giving them a ride on the paddleboard to get them to dry ground.

“The community was incredible, everyone was out to help,” he said.

“I was trapped at Holloways and worried the jetty could snap loose and I’d lose my boat, so helping out took my mind off that.

“It was super nerve-racking, we didn’t know what was going to happen next, it was very real, scary and strange and sad and exciting at the same time – there were people crying, and a bunch of eight-year-old boys with fishing rods across the road.

“Seeing the community get together was awesome, it was incredible.

Lee Kernaghan will perform a special one off show on the Reef joined by Sheppard, Max Jackson and Kairos Kin. Photo: Brian Cassey

“No one really saw it coming, it was just next level.”

Another community hero, Claudia Wiegel, is enjoying her first trip to the Far North with partner Anthony Serra, who nominated her.

Ms Weigel is a social worker with Launch Housing in Melbourne and her job is helping people on low incomes find private rentals – in the middle of a housing crisis.

“It’s a really mixed bag of people, some sleeping rough for a while or people who were once really successful but post-Covid lost everything and need help,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to spending time with like-minded people, celebrating achievements, great entertainment, I’ve never gone snorkelling before, and I am going to the turtle rehabilitation centre.”

The Reef Magic Pontoon will host a country music concert on Saturday.

Organiser James Dein said people aged from nine years to 75 years were among the 100 heroes.

“We have a lot of Far North heroes nominated who did tremendous things during Jasper and the associated flooding but also those who have worked behind the scenes in many ways for their community not just in times of crisis,” Mr Dein said.

“Looking at the forecast it looks like the sun will be out, our performers are excited, it’s going to be a great day with a lot of happy faces.”

He said all those who nominated were being offered free weekend passes to Savannah in the Round at Mareeba from October 11 to 13.

“We wanted to thank them for taking the time to enter, it was the least we could do after so many worthy nominations” he said.

Savannah on the Reef has state and federal funding support to help the Far North bounce back from the flood, as part of a $29.15m tourism recovery and resilience program.

Originally published as Savannah on the Reef country music event for community heroes