There’s one thing we do well in Logan – and that’s lending a hand. From sporting clubs, to the State Emergency Service, the Logan City Council, and the city’s state Members, Logan is ready every day to help when it’s needed most.
When the rains hit, the Logan SES unit based at Daisy Hill were there as always. The Logan East SES filled sandbags with help from the PCYC cadets from Slacks Creek, and responded to hundreds of calls for assistance. And they helped the Logan City Council set up the evacuation centre in Crestmead as rain kept thundering down.
I want to especially acknowledge Fiona Vickers, Group Leader of the Logan East SES, who led our awesome local ‘orange angels’ as they helped our community.
Some of our sporting clubs were hard hit by flood damage – while others stood ready to help.
Take Springwood Sharks for example, where my kids compete. They lost almost everything in the deluge – for the third time. The nearby Meadowbrook Golf Club offered storage space before the muddy waters rose, so some equipment was saved, but their sheds, and the canteen, all went under.
It was heartbreaking for the club, but our community is rallying around to support them.
On Saturday 12 March, club members, family, and community members showed up to clean up and salvage what we could. It was a massive, muddy effort for everyone involved.
Special thanks to all the Sharks volunteers – people like Sam, Rob and Simon who wielded pressure washers for hours on end; there are too many to name everyone but you are all amazing! And I’d like to extend a thanks to the Rotary Club of Rochedale – South East Technology Park. They called in the Merciful Servants, who lent us four brand-new Karchers and hose reel sets for the day. And another shout out goes to Eden from the Springwood Youth Advisory Committee who turned out and pitched in with the rest of us.
The Slacks Creek Lions did their bit to help too, by holding a fundraising night on Saturday 5 March with the profits to the Sharks.
The Lions are one of hundreds of examples of clubs that mobilised volunteers across south-east Queensland to help the recovery efforts.
They became an informal community hub, adding to those established by the Palaszczuk Government. The Lions clubhouse at Daisy Hill became a place where people could charge mobile phones, have a cuppa, or take a shower – a place where others could put their arm around those in need.
The club joined forces with Community Clubs Logan and Woodridge North State School to serve hot meals. Local business kicked in too, with the IGA Loganholme donating milk, tea, coffee, and other goodies.
And Lions volunteers went out into the community to help households who needed a hand cleaning up.
The Logan East Community Neighbourhood Association also offered their centre as a safe place to charge phones, have a cuppa, or pick up food parcels and clothes. And since the floods, they have continued collecting donations to give to flood affected families.
The Logan House Fire Network is another local volunteer group well known for the support they provide to fire-ravaged households. They mobilised through flood, too, distributing donations to those who’ve lost everything – and even helping to rescue four miniature horses from flood waters in Chambers Flat!
This is a community I’m so proud to be part of, and one I’m even more proud to represent. The Logan community goes above and beyond in times of heartache, both for our own community and others nearby. These stories are just some examples of the amazing community spirit that have shone through the devastation of these floods.
There are so many more community groups and organisations, and individuals who have reached out and are still reaching out to those who need help. But on behalf of everyone who is again reminded of why we’re so proud to be from Logan, can I just say – thank you.
