"Wisdom is the principle thing: therefore get wisdom;
and so get understanding." Prov 4:7
"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered;
the point is to discover them." Galileo
True Love Conquers the Terror
When complete strangers start hugging each other and their eyes are flooding with tears, you know something big has happened. All over the Lockyer Valley, all over Queensland this is happening. Out of the sheer terror of Lockyer's gargantuan flash flood, many are seeing themselves and those around them with very different eyes. True love isn't just the stuff of romance novels; it has become the evident experience of those whose lives have been transformed by tragedy.
Helen and Graham Besley were swept from their property at Grantham on that memorable Monday afternoon. They lived to tell a miraculous story.
After an unsuccessful attempt 2 get into their car and escape, they held hands across the roof of their now floating vehicle. They soon lost grip and were separated and both were swept along in the raging torrent. Ahead of them lay the collapsed hothouses of the neighbouring farm. They became snagged on the framework and managed to hang on. This prevented them from being swept into the Lockyer Creek and inescapable thrust of the waters. For an hour they struggled to stay clutching to the framework in water at least 3m deep. Graham doesn't swim and is still in recovery mode from triple bypass heart surgery.
His chest felt like exploding but somehow he and helen just kept holding on until the water level began to drop.
They then staggered out to the main road in waist high water, barely able to walk from exhaustion and wondering if they would even make the short distance to the road.
Anthony Tonner and Brian Kearney happened to be passing by at the time in their ute. They were enroute to Grantham desperate to find Anthony's children and mother-in-law who he'd last heard were scrambling to get on a roof top.
Anthony Tonner and Brian Kearney the smiling rescue angels who
picked up Graham and Helen after their flood ordeal.
As they drove past the Wagners quarry driveway, Brian saw two figures across the paddock waving their arms in the air. The men stopped and turned around to pick up the bedraggled, half clothed, mud figures floundering towards them.
Anthony took them to Andrew and Claire Bramble's house in Helidon where they spent the next four days until their son John was able to get through from Brisbane to pick them up on friday.
Graham and Helen describe their ordeal as miraculous retelling their story over and over. 'We just hung on and kept saying the Lord's Prayer over and over again. Just a few days before the flood Graham and I were talking about culling our belongings and living more simply. Obviously, that was a good idea and we got some help to do it', laughed a cheery, smiling and awestruck Helen. 'Gods hand is in this. God's hand was upon us.'
'I've met a brother in Andrew. A true brother and I'll never forget what his family has done for us', said Graham. 'Helidon has been wonderful to us'.
Anthony's children and mother in law were airlifted to safety by the super men and women of our emergency services and they will never forget their efforts and care for his family and the many others whose lives they saved.
Helidon escaped major damage from the land-born tsunami. 'The town of Helidon is like an oasis, like a refuge in the middle surrounded by death and destruction.
I'm just so thankful for my family's deliverance from harm I'm especially thankful that we could help our neighbours', said Andrew Bramble after waving goodbye to his new found friends.
Helen and Graham Besley of Grantham outside Andrew and Claire Bramble's house in Helidon where they stayed for four days until their son was able to get through from Brisbane.
Helidon families have opened their hearts and homes to many less fortunate, offering a place 2 sleep, shower, wash clothes. With the town water now off, tank water is like liquid gold.
Helidon will host a concert of thanksgiving and praise led by Helidon's own songbirds Hopney Moffett on Australia Day, 26th January.
'We just want to say a big thank you to all the incredible emergency service personnel, army and volunteers who have worked tirelessly and bravely for days on end. They are truly heroic.' Says Ben Malone of Hopney Moffett who was inspired to employ his musician's talents and create some joy in the midst of tragedy.
Helidon business leader Claire Murphy has been behind the Australia Day event, 'We'll be having a free sausage sizzle, dancing and music in the main street at St Davids church grounds with kick off at 9am. Everyone is welcome. We'd love to have as many of the volunteer and emergency workers as possible to come along'.
Claire greeted Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Premier Anna Bligh as they visited the refuge at Helidon Community Centre last Friday. Claire said,'Both Julia and Anna were so caring and committed to helping all Queenslanders affected by the floods. I asked Anna if her own mother was ok after being evacuated in Brisbane and she said that she felt a lot better now knowing her mum was now at her home.
Local business leader Claire Murphy with
Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Helidon.
'We just want to say a big thank you to all the incredible emergency service personnel, army and volunteers who have worked tirelessly and bravely for days on end. They are truly heroic.'
Ben Malone of Hopney Moffett
Magnificat Meal Movement International
PO Box 2701, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
mmmi33@bigpond.com