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| Limestone St Ipswich during 2011 flood. |
Everyone living in the Ipswich region in 2011 was touched by the flood disaster. Some lost their homes, or their business. Others were part of the recovery effort, helping in whatever way they could. Three Ipswich residents, affected by the floods in different ways, share their memories of that unforgettable time, and the progress the community has made.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale
"It has been 24 months of blood, sweat and tears, but also 24 months of a sense of pride in this great city where I have seen neighbours helping neighbours, suburbs helping suburbs, and businesses helping businesses. The whole community came together.
"After 24 months I can report we are a stronger community, and people from all over Australia and around the world have seen a new Ipswich evolving.
"Nobody prepares you for a natural disaster. I remember not sleeping for three days, and just not knowing what to do. I just went with my gut feeling and made every decision I could. I appointed someone to look after the `nuts and bolts', I went out into the community. The best way to make a decision, I found, is not from a manual, but seeing the problem and hurt with your own eyes.
"We started the Mayor's Community Fund flood appeal, and everyone said I was crazy to want to raise $1 million, but we did that in two weeks. Within four weeks there was $2.5 million in the bank and we were able to give money to people and make significant steps.''
Moores Pocket resident Vicki Ash
"Most people are back in their houses. We only started rebuilding in February last year. We are getting there. There are people at Riverview who only got a kitchen in before Christmas. Then you have the ones are still arguing with the Ombudsman and insurance companies.
"What we are coming across now are insurance premiums going through the roof. We are getting quotes between $6000 and $13,000 just to insure for flood. There are a lot of people who have to weigh up can they afford it, or do they risk it.
"For me it is very fresh in the memory, like it only happened a few weeks ago. It is still heartbreaking, and you still go to get things and you realise you've thrown them out on your front yard with a big pile of rubbish. In hindsight a lot shouldn't have been thrown out, it all happened so quick.
"We need to put things in place so when it does happen again, people know what to do. It is inevitable. We live on a floodplain.''
Ipswich Chamber of Commerce President Brett Kitching
Mr Kitching, also president of the Ipswich Turf Club, vividly remembers watching the water eerily creep up minute by minute to inundate the race track in 2011.
"I was a 10 year-old lad back in 1974 and well remember the flood back then and going with my family round to different houses around Bundamba which had mud all over the walls and helping to clean out,'' he said.
"It doesn't surprise me that the community did the same thing all these years later.
"I think, in the Ipswich community, everyone jumped in and helped out.''
As Chamber of Commerce president, Mr Kitching said the flood took its toll on local businesses but the same resilient mentality meant the city was now suffering few residual effects.
"You drive through the CBD and see all this building and growth; it shows the result of the flood but shows continued growth in Ipswich and that the economy is performing better than most other (regional) economies.''
Everyone living in the Ipswich region in 2011 was touched by the flood disaster. Some lost their homes, or their business. Others were part of the recovery effort, helping in whatever way they could. Three Ipswich residents, affected by the floods in different ways, share their memories of that unforgettable time, and the progress the community has made.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale
"It has been 24 months of blood, sweat and tears, but also 24 months of a sense of pride in this great city where I have seen neighbours helping neighbours, suburbs helping suburbs, and businesses helping businesses. The whole community came together.
"After 24 months I can report we are a stronger community, and people from all over Australia and around the world have seen a new Ipswich evolving.
"Nobody prepares you for a natural disaster. I remember not sleeping for three days, and just not knowing what to do. I just went with my gut feeling and made every decision I could. I appointed someone to look after the `nuts and bolts', I went out into the community. The best way to make a decision, I found, is not from a manual, but seeing the problem and hurt with your own eyes.
"We started the Mayor's Community Fund flood appeal, and everyone said I was crazy to want to raise $1 million, but we did that in two weeks. Within four weeks there was $2.5 million in the bank and we were able to give money to people and make significant steps.''
Moores Pocket resident Vicki Ash
"Most people are back in their houses. We only started rebuilding in February last year. We are getting there. There are people at Riverview who only got a kitchen in before Christmas. Then you have the ones are still arguing with the Ombudsman and insurance companies.
"What we are coming across now are insurance premiums going through the roof. We are getting quotes between $6000 and $13,000 just to insure for flood. There are a lot of people who have to weigh up can they afford it, or do they risk it.
"For me it is very fresh in the memory, like it only happened a few weeks ago. It is still heartbreaking, and you still go to get things and you realise you've thrown them out on your front yard with a big pile of rubbish. In hindsight a lot shouldn't have been thrown out, it all happened so quick.
"We need to put things in place so when it does happen again, people know what to do. It is inevitable. We live on a floodplain.''
Ipswich Chamber of Commerce President Brett Kitching
Mr Kitching, also president of the Ipswich Turf Club, vividly remembers watching the water eerily creep up minute by minute to inundate the race track in 2011.
"I was a 10 year-old lad back in 1974 and well remember the flood back then and going with my family round to different houses around Bundamba which had mud all over the walls and helping to clean out,'' he said.
"It doesn't surprise me that the community did the same thing all these years later.
"I think, in the Ipswich community, everyone jumped in and helped out.''
As Chamber of Commerce president, Mr Kitching said the flood took its toll on local businesses but the same resilient mentality meant the city was now suffering few residual effects.
"You drive through the CBD and see all this building and growth; it shows the result of the flood but shows continued growth in Ipswich and that the economy is performing better than most other (regional) economies.''
www.CourierMail.com.au
11.1.13
