Humour in the wind
CYCLONES are exhausting work — for those going through them and for their loved ones watching and waiting from afar. Living in the tropics you get used to the threat of cyclones but the likes of Debbie don’t strike every year. Like many others in the region I watched and waited anxiously while family and friends from Prossy to Sarina endured the category four cyclone’s fury. Brother Glen and wife Lisa Steele were in the firing line in their Proserpine home and with the wonders of modern technology they provided a graphic insight to the arsenal Debbie was packing. Their drama started about 2pm Monday with moderate winds which slowly but steadily escalated. They lost the side walls of their carport which fell next to their car, smashing against the side of it. The front gate and part of the fence is “buggered” and trees and shrubs have been stripped after hours thrashing wildly.
They lost power about 3am Tuesday when spectacularly the wires touched causing three big flashes.
Glen described the noise of the wind buzzing through the wires as “very eerie”.
Wind gusts turned into a constant assault and their low block house shuddered against the ferociousness of them. Heavy, driving rain was relentless. They admitted by midmorning that they were “done”. History tells us they had hours to go before the very worst would be over.
Through it all there was humour. During an absence of sleep in the wee small hours before hell was unleashed, Glen told of his excitement running to his caravan in the shed to “boil the billy” to ease the boredom.
Then later, a photo sent of prized bananas heaving and water-logged ... “Me bananas are still hanging on!!” I responded with: “They grow ‘em tough in NQ! Banana splits.”
They were pummelled all night and all day but incredibly through it all we had communication. Ironically it was those sitting in harm’s way, reassuring me.
“All good … If that’s the only damage we get we’ll be lucky.” Indeed, they are lucky. Roads, homes and businesses have been destroyed and crops flattened from Ayr to Mackay. And now South-East Queensland and northern NSW are under water.
Each time our state endures an extreme weather event we learn a little more. Considering the wild and relentless nature of cyclones it’s unbelievable there aren’t mass casualties
Infrastructure can be replaced, humans can’t. We dip our hat to those who have worked hard and smart to keep people safe and the many more who will help mend broken lives.
CYCLONE DEBBIE BROUGHT MISERY TO SO MANY WITH HER RELENTLESS DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAIN BUT THROUGH IT ALL THE CHEERFUL SPIRIT OF WEATHER-HARDENED QUEENSLANDERS SHONE THROUGH THE GLOOM