A special tribute to my home town, Brisbane

Thank goodness for the internet, because I can watch Channel Nine's Today show live and listen to my favourite radio station, 4BC, to keep abreast of the terrible floods that have affected Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley and more recently, my home town of Brisbane. While the coverage in the USA has not been extensive, it seems that a many Americans are aware of your pain and suffering during this time.

I know it's been a while since I wrote my last blog, but my husband and I have moved from Salt Lake City to Park City - the world famous ski resort town.  We simply love it here.  I am volunteering as a Lift Line Coordinator at the Park City Mountain Resort - a job which has great benefits, one being that I get to meet people from all over the world - and lots of Australians.  I wear a badge that says "Caroline G from Brisbane Australia".  I can't tell you the number of Americans who stopped on their way to the chair lift and asked how my family were and to express their compassion for Queenslanders who have been affected by the floods.

I am still in shock at what I am seeing from the video footage and pictures - this once lively, clean and beautiful city that now seems a ghost town covered in mud and debris.  From what I've heard and seen, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is doing a brilliant job and in the words of a dear friend "he's been amazing!" 

But from this disaster comes amazing stories of bravery, courage and kindness.  Apparently, the Council is having to turn away volunteers because so many people have come forward to lend a helping hand.  I was just speaking with a friend of mine in Brisbane this morning who had spent the last week driving around Chelmer, Kenmore and Fig Tree Pocket helping people getting their now ruined belongings to the kerb so they can be picked up by the Council.  My friend said the other day in Chelmer, a gentleman had set up a barbecue and was cooking steaks and sausages for people in the neighbourhood, while his daughter was slicing up tomatoes and lettuce!

I know it might sounds callous to some, but sometimes I think disasters like this bring new hope to those who feel there is no goodness left in the world.  And in so many pictures, I see people who are smiling and making the best of a terribly bad situation - the Aussie sense of humour cannot be underestimated.  I know that Queensland will recover from this tragedy and Brisbane will once again become the thriving hub it was before the floods. Queenslanders are tough and resilient.

From here, I can't do much except to pray for you all and thank all who are helping their fellow Australians during this time.  You make me proud to be an Australian and I wear my badge at the Park City Mountain Resort with honour.

I want to especially thank my dear friends, James and Leanne, who helped move some of my belongings out of the flood ravaged Albion into another warehouse at the last minute, and to MiniMovers who were able to pick up the goods on the same day I called them.

Here are two pictures which I think sums up the Australian spirit.

Aussie Aussie Aussie..oy, oy, oy!