Dig deep for Yam islanders

DONATIONS are desperately needed for our suffering fellow Queenslanders on Yam Island in the Torres Strait hit hard by king tides last week.

Shipping company Sea Swift is filling a container for free to take to the island.

More than 15 residents have lost everything and will have to start from scratch.

Fridges, washing machines, TVs, lounges, mattresses and clothing have been destroyed. Most of the affected residents are staying with relatives in the village until they can find alternative housing.

They have no clothing, no power and have lost their normal living.

Any donations people can make will mean so much.

The donations can be left at Sea Swift’s Tingira St premises at Portsmith by Thursday for delivery on February 16.

In the meantime Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford and Member for Cook Cynthia Lui flew to the island yesterday to see the clean-up first hand and to consider what can be done to help the residents get back on their feet.

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements are in place but the government needs to work with the council and the Federal Government to consider building a sea wall which has been a success on Saibai Island.

The only fault came when one of the wall’s 42 valves had been left propped open to allow water to pass through.

The people of Yam Island might be far away and out of sight and mind but it is our obligation as fellow Queenslanders to help them in their time of need. Nick Dalton Deputy editor