Water in right and wrong places

With the recent Mitchell floods still so vivid in my mind, my heart goes out to all those people in northern Victoria and New South Wales who are -- at this point in time -- suffering floods. There seems no end to abnormal rain events throughout Australia, which brings to mind climate change and our need to prepare ourselves for more severe storms and torrential rains. But it's not easy. It's extraordinarily difficult!

On the other hand, oceans and bays hold water that's in its correct place. Western Port Bay -- which laps the northern shores of Phillip Island -- holds a wealth of plant and animal life.

In 2003, about 30 paper nautilus shells washed up onto the sand after a very high tide. These delicate creamy white shells are the egg case of a female octopus. Last year we found just one, and it sits in pride of place on our dining room table. Other treasures include shells exquisite in their shape, size and colours, sea urchins, a shark's tooth, and a piece of driftwood weathered by salt, sun and sea.

But a nautilus shell is the ultimate treasure.

Volunteers and the army descend on Mitchell Qld

Teams of volunteers (as well as the army) have descended on Mitchell. Yesterday a fire brigade team from 'away' arrived in a big fire truck, and using their high-pressure hoses cleaned our chairs, tables and office furniture, and then cleaned the cement under the bull-nosed verandah. After the fire brigade had visited, a firm of solar experts stopped to check our metre box which had suffered some damage. After 10 minutes or so they fixed the problem. So now our solar panels will be working and building up credit. And all with a smile!

Insurance assessors are in Mitchell and will visit today. Fortunately our house and contents are insured, but not enough to cover everything. We'll have a gap to fill. Time will tell what we decide we can do and afford. Both of us want to come back to Mitchell. That is certain.

Aside from people's houses (over 80 per cent have been badly damaged), businesses, public buildings, roads and the bridge have also suffered bad damage.

Prior to the flood, our view looked over a bitumen road to the river, which was hidden from sight by a dense corridor of vegetation. Most of this has been swept away. All that's left are a few of the larger doolans and river red gums.

Yesterday Rod and Doug pulled our caravan out as the shed and began cleaning it. Water went up to the beds. The caravan will never be roadworthy again and is so damaged it can't even be used as somewhere for us to stay while we sort out our affairs in Mitchell. This is a big disappointment, as Doug built the caravan.

Phil and Donna, who own and run the Mitchell Post Office, have been generous in giving Doug bed a sleep in and meals to sustain him -- along with advice, support and their excellent sense of humour.

Angie gave Doug her car to use while he's in Mitchell, and has provided meals, advice and support as well. Rod's assistance with the caravan was appreciated too.

Here on Phillip Island, I feel grateful that I'm living in a safe, clean environment, yet I feel incredibly frustrated that I'm not in Mitchell helping Doug in flood-damaged Mitchell. Also, I'd like to be able to offer support and assistance to other people in need. I have to accept, however, that for health reasons I can't be in Mitchell at this point in time.

It's amazing the things that have survived. The smallest of our lemon scented gums was bent over double with the force of the water and debris. Today it unfolded itself and Doug says it looks great. While other trees have died, our three lemon scented gums (that we grew from seed) look to have benefited.

Finally, an update about John and his horse Honey. When the Maranoa River burst its banks and began to threaten the town of Mitchell, John was told to evacuate. He said, "If Honey can't go, I'm not going either. I don't care what happens I'm not leaving Honey and that's final."

So John spent the night sitting on the back steps of his house with Honey alongside while the water rose rapidly right up to the top step. Apparently Honey couldn't climb up the steps and into the safety of the house because she's a very old horse. John is in his 80s. I'm touched by this story, knowing that John would risk his life for Honey. Thankfully both man and horse are safe.

PS
I've included another photo of Honey and John; and also one of Doug, Rob and Charlie sitting on our front fence prior to the flood. The river went right over this fence and knocked it over.

Pets, clothes and 'stuff': Mitchell floods

When evacuation orders are given (in case of flood or fire), people's pet animals are the reason why some people refuse to leave.

Regular readers of my blog will remember John the horse whisperer and his horse Honey. John, now in his 80s, decided to stay in his home, with Honey safely indoors. Fortunately the flood waters missed coming inside by less than 1 inch.

One of our other neighbours returned to their home to find waist deep water, but their caged birds safe, and their cats high and dry but calling urgently from the top of trees and the roof.

There are many other stories of dogs, cats and birds in evacuation centres. Many of these stories are touching.

Nearly all my clothes were either wet, smelly or stained so my wonderful friend Heather offered to pack up my wardrobe and take everything home to her place to wash, dry and fold ready for storage. What an angel!

Until now I hadn't realised how personal and intimate clothes are to me, and what a comfort it is to know that a close friend has taken on the responsibility of them. Knowing Heather's generosity and quiet efficient manner, I feel humble and extremely grateful.

While Heather packed all my clothes and personal things, Doug and Heather's husband Bob packed all our paintings, books and anything else able to be saved. Everything able to be saved was loaded onto Bob's truck and taken to a storage unit in the Mitchell's industrial estate.

Out on the verandah, Doug and Bob hosed down tables and chairs, metal bookshelves and office furniture.

PS
Today's photos were taken prior to the flood.

You can see Katie's favourite place to sit in the sun, overlooking the Maranoa River. Water went over her bed, and also over the front fence, which was knocked over.

John and his horse Honey remain a Mitchell identity.

The photo of our kitchen shows the benches which went under water. Both refrigerators were knocked over.

In an emergency, live in the moment: outback Qld

The art of relaxation in times of crisis is an almost impossible thing to achieve. We all need to be aware, however, of our own individual levels of stress and how to manage them.

For me, I find myself unable to sit still; find myself overreacting to the smallest stresses of life here on Phillip Island. For instance -- and as a direct result of my stress -- Katie Siamese vomited up her breakfast in four places throughout the house, and then half an hour later Del 'threw up' in two places in the lounge room.

We are told that in order to deal with worry and negative anticipation about the future, we should live in the moment and remind ourselves of all the good things in life. Easier said than done, as I clean up vomit and think of Doug opening up our home in Mitchell to be greeted by the debris left behind after water has been over the top of tables! It's not going to be a pleasant sight and I feel for him and all our neighbours and friends.

My problem is that I empathise too readily (for my own well-being) with other people. I have to remind myself that the best way I can help Doug is to look after my own health and everything else here on the island.

A phone call at midday told me the good and the bad. Everyone in Mitchell is pulling together, helping and offering support. We have friends and neighbours who care and who are helping Doug deal with the mess.

Taking photos of absolutely everything was Doug's first task, along with making a written record of the damage. But things are much, much worse than we expected. I'll give you details tomorrow, but in short, chest height water has gone through our home, leaving a tangle of debris, mud and smell. Doug says it looks like someone has trashed the place!

Maintaining a sense of humour is possible in a disaster situation, and laughter definitely reduces stress. But many people are in shock and feel numb inside. Financial hardship, along with the loss of their home may feel too hard to bear. Around 300 homes have been flooded in Mitchell. My heart goes out to everyone affected by the floods.

PS
Today's photo shows the boardwalk to 'our' beach. I'm not going to walk to the beach with Doug away because two large German shepherds and a flight of steps would be asking for trouble with my hernia situation. We don't need another emergency unfolding here.

So I will enjoy the view from the house, and the dogs have ample exercise chasing rabbits around our garden.

A Disaster Declared in Mitchell, Outback Qld

Today has been spent with my mind swinging between the floods of Mitchell and the reality of our trip to Dandenong (two hours by car, west of Phillip Island, on the outskirts of Melbourne), where I had stitches removed from skin cancers on my ear, forehead and chin.

Later, as I wandered around the Dandenong market -- where a huge array of goods were for sale, with buyers of all age groups and nationalities -- my mind was back in Mitchell, buzzing with concerns, possible outcomes and a deep sense of loss -- both for ourselves and for all our friends in Mitchell and surrounds who are flooded.

The irony of our house name in Mitchell struck home today. We had a sign made that said 'Welcome to the Bering Sea'. The former owners of the property had porthole windows built into the front door. The name was meant to suggest our migration from Phillip Island to a warmer winter in outback Queensland, like the Phillip Island mutton birds who fly to the Bering Sea for the winter. Today, our house is surrounded by a sea of flood water, and the photo shows our friend Richard checking our house, in his kayak. You can see Stego's house to the right. Stego is, of course, safe here on Phillip Island. The water is now up to the house sign!

Meanwhile the river has risen higher still. In all probability water is waist deep throughout our house. This is the worst flood in white history.

We knew there was a risk of flooding when we bought our home alongside the Maranoa River, but somehow we didn't expect it to happen!

I feel a profound sense of disappointment and loss. It's not just a house and its contents, but a way of life. After five years of living seven months of each year in Mitchell, we've made ourselves very comfortable, fitted into the community, made friends and feel the outback is home. It's a unique outback lifestyle that is at risk rather than a house and its contents. After all, the contents are mainly stuff.

The only thing I really care about is a manuscript I wrote about St Francis of Assisi and his gift with animals. I have only one copy of the book and it's sitting on a bench in the kitchen. I hope the flood waters haven't destroyed it. Nothing else matters as much as this book which took over one year to write and involved research which took us to Assisi in Italy. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, our hearts go out to all our friends and neighbours in Mitchell who are suffering stress and dreadful damage to their homes. We are thinking of you.

Mountains of sand and stick debris suggest huge floods

North of Mitchell, at the Major Mitchell Campsite, the river has carved a wide, deep course. The quantity of deposited sand, and the large collections of logs and stick debris -- when combined with the deep U- shaped riverbed -- suggest huge quantities of water roar down this river, at a fast rate.

During the summer months, when the river floods, the Maranoa River is the fastest flowing river in Queensland.

When Doug and I walked downstream, a couple of days ago, we saw these mountains of debris and sand. I felt in awe of this mighty river, the Maranoa.

PS

Yesterday I was unwell, and so missed out on writing my blog. Apologies to my loyal readers.

Maranoa murals tell a story

The murals on the bridge pylons at Mitchell paint a vivid picture of life in this small outback town.

Every time the Maranoa River floods, there is damage to the murals. Mud is no problem as it either washes off or dries to dust and blows away. However, flood debris (in the form of logs and branches) does damage the murals by crashing into the pylons or scraping past.

Nevertheless, most images are still vibrant with colour and meaning. The murals depicting fishing and horse riding show two popular activities. The Royal Flying Doctor mural shows a service that is vital to the outback. Cattle, and the cypress mill are important industries. Bottle trees stamp the area as outback, and an historic image suggests a time when horse and buggies, and Cob and Co coaches were the norm.

Every evening, as Major and I walk over the foot bridge crossing the Maranoa River, past and present merge in a delightful way.