The Big Guns Hit Roma

Hi Niss42

Thanks for the link, those pictures are unreal. Like many Australians, we have been all through those devastated areas in Queensland and it seems impossible that all that volume of water has ruined so many peoples houses, work places and such.

Let us all hope that they all get back on their feet fast, and not drawn out over the coming months.



Cheers


Stephen

I had to crack a smile at photo No 14, Thongs .

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Hi Patrol 22

Thanks for the correction, as my son thought that they were all from the RAAF.

Let the True Aussie Spirit Shine and we can all be proud that our boys and girls are there to help out in times like this.



Cheers


Stephen

Yup, they are J's. 6 blades on the props.

I think it is great that the Armed Forces are involved. In fact I think there should be more of them. They are at least paid, and these events are such great opportunities to develop and practice their skills, great for PR and helps out those poor over stretched valiant SES volunteers ( and all those other volunteers) that are often victim themselves.
Well done, and hopefully more will be able to help.

The red tape that has to be cut to get ADF help is beyond belief. The have to ask permission to request access to speak to the bloke who knows the phone number of the security detail in charge of the Chief of Defence before a wheel can be turned. The ADF have a thing call DACC. Defence Aid to the Civil Community. How about mobilising it without the red tape........

Agree Hollywood that the red tape is a bit too much...but that's the joys of our type of government...ie a federal system where the States have control of almost everything really except to a few exceptions as spelt out in our constitution. In cases like this the State government has absolute control and unless they invite the Federal government to help out (ie the ADF) then the ADF and other such agencies cannot just rock up. I was part of the team the mobilised in the wake of Cyclone Tracy......and this was done in just a couple of hours. The ADF was expecting to be called on and as such I and other like me were recalled to work within 4 hours of Tracy demolishing Darwin and we sailed within 48 hours ...some ships and the embarked helicopter squadrons less than half complement. Same goes today..the local commanders read the tea leaves expecting to get the call and are able to mobilise quickly.

Ahh, nope. I am in my room, its raining more. We have trucks that could be turning perfectly good diesel into soot carrying the Ginger beers plant up ready to go when it subsides. Or at least loading it.

Being ADHD sucks when it rains........

Hi Sharon

Good to hear that you got home safely. We did the Murraylands drive last weekend and I am doing a blog which should be up soon.

It is so hard to believe all that water and how you poor Queenslanders are copping. We are thinking of you all up there.

All I can say is take care and keep dry.


Cheers


Stephen

Hi Doug

Patrol22 has pointed that out above.


Cheers

Stephen

I remember the Winton Cafe, Doug. Pleased to hear Irene is safe. One of our friends had to helicoptered out from her property at Surat last week, stilll not home yet. Her house is high and has concrete underneath but the water come up and under - all over her property.
I hope the Govt. (local, state and fed) finally realises that most of the flooded housing is because money changes hands via developers (and the mining industry in places like Emerald) which is why housing has been built on flood areas. Wicked. Time compo was paid and the low lying areas turned into grassy parks for people to enjoy. Here ends my rant.
We are fine here, cut off by the Logan for a day but it goes up and down like the proverbial bride's nightie - not like the might rivers out west and north which stay up for months on end. Ian like a restless tiger waiting to get back to Birdsville to start the next project. Hope you are keeping well, Doug. Haven't had much time to talk this year - been commuting a lot to NQ with family problems. Ruth