Community donations help Greenvale Roadhouse support stranded travellers, truckies
While dozens of people were stranded at a NQ roadhouse during the flooding event, a single donation kickstarted a ripple of generosity which spread across Australia. See what happened.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
While dozens of travellers were stranded at Greenvale Roadhouse during the 2025 flooding event, all it took was one donation to kickstart a ripple of generosity which spread across Australia, proving that the worst situations can bring out the best in people.
As this month’s deluge lifted river heights and severed roads on the western side of the Great Dividing Range, the family-owned Greenvale Roadhouse stepped up as a vital hub for dozens of stranded travellers and truckies.
It was a baptism of fire for mother-of-four Julie Condon, who purchased the roadhouse last December with her husband Dan, who had been away mustering when the monsoon struck.
When the first round of rain cut the roads, she said the stranded travellers were really positive and they had plenty of food, but “then the second lot of rain came through (mid-last week) and it got very serious”.
“We had 50 to 60 trucks here at one point … and 30 to 40 family vehicles … all just sitting with nowhere to go, nothing to do, and at that point, I was pretty concerned about what we had foodwise,” Ms Condon said.
“Feeding people was never a problem, it was probably more charging people – I didn’t really like that part, because I knew everyone was stuck.”
With their electricity supply severed for eight days, she offered their generator-powered house as a place where travellers could take care of their kids, shower, and do their washing.
When a generous truckie offered $200 to pay for coffees, they posted about it onto social media, which kicked off a “massive” outpouring of generosity from the Australian public.
They received help setting up a PayID account to collect almost $6000 in donations which was distributed as food, drinks, and supplies to lift the spirits of the stranded travellers.
“It was very full on and amazing. The truck drivers were so positive, and they just were patient and knew they had to get through,” she said.
“Everyone was doing what they had to do and chipped in … it definitely gave me faith in humanity.”
Although the sun was peaking out of the clouds, and east coast roads were reopening, she said they were still not out of the woods, with roads still cut around the area, there was still $1500 left in the kitty to support those in need over the coming weeks.
Ms Condon called for political leaders to put better systems in place like improved signage, Google Maps warnings, or public messaging to discourage travellers from attempting journeys when they could be cut off by rising rivers without adequate provisions.
To follow Greenvale Roadhouse, visit Facebook.
More Coverage
Originally published as Community donations help Greenvale Roadhouse support stranded travellers, truckies
Ex-Mad Cow manager in court for drug supply charge
When police clocked this man allegedly entering the toilet of a popular Flinders St pub, they grew suspicious. Here’s why.
‘Cruel, brutal’: 30 years on from confronting Rwanda mission
In the 1990s ADF personnel were called up to assist a country plagued by death and division. This year veterans will return to their old training grounds for the reunion.