Story Ethan Messer, Padua College student journalist
Picture this, it’s Wednesday, 5 March. School has just been cancelled for the next two days. People are told to stay home, bunker down and prepare.
This was the reality for most residents of Brisbane and the greater Brisbane region. Cyclone Alfred was predicted to hit to some degree on Thursday, yet most people had no idea what this meant or what to do.
Marchant Ward Councillor Danita Parry said: “I think most of us were surprised when we heard a tropical cyclone was headed for Brisbane for the first time in 50 years.”
The truth was that anxiety and uncertainty were brewing throughout the community day by day. But, we weren’t going down without a fight. People filled sandbags for hours, helped others prepare and united in the face of an uncertain future.
Until, finally – though not a cyclone anymore – the storm hit.
Over 330,000 properties were left without power and over 44,000 insurance claims in relation to damage were made to the Insurance Council of Australia. It was evident that we had been hit hard. But the community stayed stronger and the clean-up began.
“Whether it was filling sandbags for neighbours, clearing fallen trees or even sharing updates on social media, it meant we were able to withstand the impact and move into the recovery phase relatively quickly,” Cr Parry said.
Becoming Better Place Through Community Service
Local residents began to see and commence clean up around the community. Padua College students, Ryder and Addison, were observed clearing and fixing up a walking bridge that crossed a stretch of Kedron Brook. This is what Ryder had to say about the community:
“I think community service is important as it not only brings us together but also allows the community to be a better place,” Ryder said.
The skies cleared up, power returned, and the clean-up was nearly complete.
While Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred posed a problem for our local area, as a community we were united in the struggle.
Councillor Parry said that she was blown away by how much the community rallied together to support one another. She thanked everyone who did their bit to help.
In the end, something was clear. When in darkness, the good things shine brighter – and the people in Brisbane certainly shine brightly.
Read more stories from the Chermside Guide’s print magazine here:
- Chermside Connect: Updates from the Community
- Brooke and Adam Set to Rock Kedron-Wavell
- Country Music Club Celebrates 50 Years
- Modern Chermside
- Aspley Seniors Volunteers Recognised for Community Service
- Five Comedians, One Night, Endless Laughs
- Sing Along with Pretzel Poem Project at Nundah Library
- National Duran Duran Tribute Tour Premieres in Nundah
- Organic Gardening in April
