As most of Queensland emerges battered and bruised from weeks of natural disasters the spirit of mateship and resilience has not been lost. At the Emerald Household Resource Centre (HRC) situated at the Emerald Showgrounds the volunteers have been so inundated with donations that they are sending some to cyclone-ravaged Innisfail.

In true blue style volunteers have been coming to the region to help out some farmers who need a hand. Aussie Helpers have been offering assistance to many Farmers that have suffered devastation from the floods through out Queensland. The groups of volunteers have been working in areas such as Theodore, Rolleston, Emerald, Duaringa and Baralaba to help with fencing and feeding cattle.

Even after experiencing extensive losses in the flood the Emerald Soccer Association is down but not out of the game. The club suffered an inundation of 1.5 meters of water though both the clubhouse and the cafeteria virtually ruining all of the equipment, paperwork, jerseys, electrical equipment and much more. However, they are still expecting a full sign on for the season.

Students at the small Arcadia Valley State School were pleasantly surprised when boxes of school supplies and toys arrived last Friday. The boxes were full of donations to replace the extensive losses that the school experienced after the flood.

As the waters receded from beneath the Vince Lester Bridge, the beautiful green ‘oasis’ that the locals are used to was almost unrecognisable. After two weeks under water the Emerald Botanic Gardens were looking a shadow of their former glory, a situation council are hoping to fix soon.

Council has established the Central Highlands Flood Recovery Coordination Group. They will be providing adivice to Council and the Local Disaster Management Group on recovery issues in the areas of Social and Community Support, Natural Environment, Roads, Transport and Built Infrastructure, and Economic Recovery Click here for more.