Biblical Scale Disaster

[praxis178]

You crazy buggers :lol: Hard work helping others, followed by beers and shenanigans, all supported by BD and the likes.

The AHB Mud Army 2011: Batz, Bonj, Florian, InCider, Shed, Tidal Pete, Thomas. Must be more!

Great Effort, thanks!

Screwy

Thanks Screwy,

But really we are but a tiny part of the great community that is QLD, it really was amazing to see the effort that people put in.... One example the plumber from four houses down (literally) the street from where I was working had a single story house which was a total lose so after give the vollos the simple instruction get everything out he and his family went house to house shutting down plumbing where required and generally helping out, they spent ~3hrs at my sister's as they had a downstairs toilet and kitchenette which needed to be shut down, after that they stuck around to help rip out the walls too. Was great to have a tradie on site..... I had thought people would just stay home and fix their own first, but no, like all of us involved in this huge task we see our neighbor's loses as bigger than our own.

Tomorrow I'm delivering a hot-water unit to the in-laws, their gas one in toast and can't be replaced for a week or too, but they will have mains power in a day or so (sparky went through yesterday), so might as well have some hot water too, it's only an 80L office size job, but it'll make a world or difference to them and their neighbors come shower time!

Right-o coffee time!

 

[bonj]

You crazy buggers :lol: Hard work helping others, followed by beers and shenanigans, all supported by BD and the likes.

The AHB Mud Army 2011: Batz, Bonj, Florian, InCider, Shed, Tidal Pete, Thomas. Must be more!

Great Effort, thanks!

Screwy

Goldy, Brucce, Browndog, Chad, Argon, not to mention Daemon and Snow. Probably more.

A bit of shenanigans last night during a beer fueled debrief.

 

[browndog]

Here is the crew from yesterdays clean up left to right, Batz, TidalPete, Shed101, Incider, Daemon, Bruce, Goldy and me, with Bonj behind the lens. We got through a heap of work at Daemon's place then went next door and helped out there. Neigbours and strangers were constantly dropping in offering food and drink, I was really impressed.

cheers

Browndog

 

[bonj]

View attachment 43339

Here is the crew from yesterdays clean up left to right, Batz, TidalPete, Shed101, Incider, Daemon, Bruce, Goldy and me, with Bonj behind the lens. We got through a heap of work at Daemon's place then went next door and helped out there. Neigbours and strangers were constantly dropping in offering food and drink, I was really impressed.

cheers

Browndog

Bit of an average photo there, BD.... sorry about that :/

 

[Paul H]

Lucky you guys can clean cause you wouldn't cut it as supermodels!

Cheers

Paul

 

[Siborg]

View attachment 43339

Here is the crew from yesterdays clean up left to right, Batz, TidalPete, Shed101, Incider, Daemon, Bruce, Goldy and me, with Bonj behind the lens. We got through a heap of work at Daemon's place then went next door and helped out there. Neigbours and strangers were constantly dropping in offering food and drink, I was really impressed.

cheers

Browndog

Seriously good to see you guys (as all of the state are) all banding together to help each other out in a crisis. I think its not only the QLD spirit, but I think Aussies in general. And its really great to see you guys all there with a smile on your faces, drinking a beer after everything you've been through, and still be able to have a laugh etc.

It really makes me proud to call myself an Australian to hear so many stories of people just chipping in it whatever way they can to help out. Top work, fellas!

p.s. Browndog I recognize you from ANHC

 

[Ross]

Just managed to get hold of Scruffy & can confirm all is good with him - They were a couple of meters above the flood level. Like so many others he's been busy helping others rebuild.

Cheers Ross

 

[katzke]

Just thought I would post some observations from the USA.

We heard about the floods on the news and it showed up on my Yahoo news page for a day or 2. Then the news about the mud in South America.

No more news about you but a few updates on the slides.

The big difference is you are dealing with it and helping out to fix the mess. Other weather related messes including ones in the USA get good press because the people effected cry for help and toss up their hands in grief.

I can not help other then to say good job to those effected and those helping out. It is nice to read that people can still take care of them selves and do not require others to take care of them.

I applaud you for having a newsworthy event that does not continue to make the news. If you figure out how to spread the spirit of independence around the world let me know.

 

[Florian]

Good to see the sunshine coast crew out and about, with help from the Gold Coast and obviously Ipswich.

Had a good day of cleaning up yesterday, the council busses brought us to Norman Park where we could help clean out and wash down a few houses. The masses of volunteers were unbelievable, but nothing compared to the ones from today. That's probably why today ended in a logistical nightmare. Arrived at Doomben at 07:30, skipped registration as I had done that yesterday already. Still had to queue up for more than an hour just to get on the busses, the queue went half way around the race course and back. We went to somewhere near Toowong, but got turned away as already 70 (!!) bus loads had arrived and they couldn't cope with all these volunteers as they needed far more trucks to get rid of the rubbish and debris on the side of the streets. So we got sent to Moggill, and waited together with 33 other busses on the road side for further instructions. After an hour of wait, we were told that all the busses had to go back to where they came from, as there was no work for us.
Although I'm sure that there would have been spots where at least some people could've helped out, I totally understand that the organisers couldn't find these spots quick enough to direct us there. It is great to see so many people out to help, and I rather get turned away than knowing that there weren't enough people.

I will no doubt return back during the week whenever it's asked for, as I'm sure that once people return to work there won't be as many volunteers.

 

[praxis178]

Just thought I would post some observations from the USA.

We heard about the floods on the news and it showed up on my Yahoo news page for a day or 2. Then the news about the mud in South America.

No more news about you but a few updates on the slides.

The big difference is you are dealing with it and helping out to fix the mess. Other weather related messes including ones in the USA get good press because the people effected cry for help and toss up their hands in grief.

I can not help other then to say good job to those effected and those helping out. It is nice to read that people can still take care of them selves and do not require others to take care of them.

I applaud you for having a newsworthy event that does not continue to make the news. If you figure out how to spread the spirit of independence around the world let me know.

Could bottle some mud for you, but all that might teach you is don't stick you're nose into river mud! LOL

Man that stuff is stinky: when well wet it's a rotting fish stench, when it dries a bit it's a damp tip/rubbish/refuse pile stench, if you re-wet it you go back to the fish. and it's sticky hard to shift crap too.

Seriously I do wish there was someway to teach this kind of self-reliance, but I don't think it can be taught, it's a community thing, where everyone is willing to look out for everyone else. I don't know why we still have it (nanny state is well developed here too), but it's great that we do.....

 

[Florian]

Forgot to mention one 'funny' thing I saw today from the bus. In the Moggill area there was a church, right in an area that obviously had been flooded, everything was grey/brown and that terrible smell everywhere. Anyway, the church had one of these billboard signs out, as they usually do over here, and it read:

smell???
what smell?
come anyway!!
Sunday 10 am

 

[ABP1973]

Got back this afternoon Thanks to the guys that fed us and supplied some floor space to sleep on. We felt we made a difference and helped to get the ones we helped get back on track . Hope to catch up with everyone once things have settled down a bit.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Rang my nieghour today... water is still 1.5mtr high at the front gate...Might get in on Tuesday... :drinks:

 

[Shed101]

That's probably why today ended in a logistical nightmare...

Bugger. We must have come straight past your place on our second sweep.

Daemon said he had everything under control, so we decided to drop into the capital on the way home.

Headed into New Farm (past all the beautiful out shopping and looking at their reflections in the windows) and chanced on a Council ute and asked them where to go. They sent us back up to Newstead where he helped strip out and wash down a school clothes factory on Ross St (I think).

Just got back home.

My observations (as a blow in who becomes an Australian at a ceremony next Wednesday) is that by and large Australia is such an isolated place people haven't forgotten how to look after themselves. Most of us don't need to do it anymore, but I guess it's in the DNA.

I don't mind or feel guilty saying it, but it was one of the most rewarding weekends I've had in a long time. Plenty of humour, hard yakka and hops.

(btw the water was up to the #11 in the photo).

 

[Shed101]

Lucky you guys can clean cause you wouldn't cut it as supermodels!

Cheers

Paul

Hey buddy ... I broke a bloody nail out there, i'll have you know :angry:

 

[InCider]

Hey buddy ... I broke a bloody nail out there, i'll have you know :angry:

You broke wind more often than nails. And more often than TP!

To echo Shed's sentiments of the emotion of the weekend, it was truly humbling. Sure we have few laughs (putting dings in TPs wheelbarrow - as he had counted them before we left!) but it was the locals - feeding us, watering us and pitching in with all and sundry to get the work done that made it so special. We often didn't know who we were working with, we effectively gatecrashed and just asked what we could do.

It was great to ask someone if they needed help only to be told they were 'alright' and see an army of their mates sweating bullets ripping up carpets or walls, just to be told that 'two streets up there's a bloke, he needs it more than us'.

Thanks to Browndog and Bonj for hosting and feeding us - you guys worked hard for a couple days then had us layabouts come and drink your beer. We are the ones who should be thanking you. Browndog, better got and check on your bike again :lol:

Great to meet Brucce and Goldy and as always TidalPete and Batz.

I had a ball this weekend, and hope we helped put a wee dent in the cleanup phase of this 'significant weather event'

 

[bonj]

Hey buddy ... I broke a bloody nail out there, i'll have you know :angry:

So did I! I noticed this morning that i tore a chunk of nail off my big toe. No damage. I guess i needed a clipping anyway. Not sure how i managed to do that with my army boots on!

And i do realise your post was a joke, just a funny coincidence that i really did break a nail!

 

[bradsbrew]

You broke wind more often than nails. And more often than TP!

I find that really hard to believe. But I would still bet that Pete's stink more.

Well done fellas.

 

[InCider]

I find that really hard to believe. But I would still bet that Pete's stink more.

Well done fellas.

Pete and the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers called a truce this weekend, and there was olfactory jousting tournament. We do however, know what to get GerniPete for his Birthday!

Yep, a pressure washer. You have never seen a man so possessed by one!

 

[winkle]

Pete and the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers called a truce this weekend, and there was olfactory jousting tournament. We do however, know what to get GerniPete for his Birthday!

I don't think that black is his colour but you never know...
You'll not get him wearing heels though!

Good effort on the weekend guys! :super: