Ozzie Floods

[Merv and Sharon]

Greg (HSV 300) lives at Withcott below Toowoomba and hasn't been so lucky.

[WKB]

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

Greg (HSV 300) lives at Withcott below Toowoomba and hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone who lives in Withcott, Murphy's Creek or Grantham are lucky just to be alive.


Warren

[boxhead]

Originally Posted by Merv and Sharon

Greg (HSV 300) lives at Withcott below Toowoomba and hasn't been so lucky.

Doesnt sound good.
Hope all people are well and ok, and all items can be replaced under insurance.
But it is the personal stuff that makes it hard.

Thoughts are with you Greg.

[Baz]

We are thinking of you guys up north and pray that everything works out.

Being an ex-cop with extensive experience in Disaster Recovery, my thoughts go out to all the families who have lost loved ones.

One positive that has come out of this besides the fighting Queensland spirit, is my opinion of your State's Premier Anna Blyth. Prior to the floods, I thought about as much of her as I did of our NSW Premier and the Prime Minister. I couldn't stand any of them. To Premier Blyth's credit her performance over the past week or so has extensively lifted her profile in my eyes.

I am used to working with big mouthed politicians who float around in emergent situations, shaking hands, hugging people and kissing children, besides getting in the way of those that are doing the real work at the coal-face.

Premier Blyth has stood this test and came through with flying colours. Congratulations Anna. You are making the big and correct decisions, but at the same time, keeping out of the way and letting those persons trained in Emergency Management get on with their jobs. She displays all the traits of true leadership and is a person that all Queenslanders can be proud of. This is why you guys will come through this and be a much closer community as a result.


Baz

[Donunder]

Originally Posted by Baz

Premier Blyth has stood this test and came through with flying colours. Congratulations Anna. You are making the big and correct decisions, but at the same time, keeping out of the way and letting those persons trained in Emergency Management get on with their jobs.
Baz

Let's hope that when the photo ops of the crisis have begun to fade away, Anna Bligh continues to stay out of the way of people like Major General Mick Slater who has been drafted to oversee all phases of the recovery and reconstruction programme. This guy sounds like the real deal and it is to be hoped he has the strength and support to withstand any political white-anting of his position when the really tough decisions concerning deployment of resources and funding have to be made.

His job has to be free of pressure from both sides of politics, as well as interference from any of the competing interest groups. Time will tell if he's a paper tiger, or someone in the mould of the late and great Clem Jones who was appointed to rebuild Darwin after it was smashed to pieces by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day in 1974. That he did so by famously cutting through all levels of red tape and standing on not a few toes and bruising the egos of many a local politician and bureaucrat, has become the stuff of legend.

Times have changed and we may never see the likes of Clem Jones again, but I hope that Mick Slater has the guts to keep Clem's spirit alive in the forthcoming years, for Queensland's sake.

[Rebel1]

Sadly, Her political career may well be saved by the public perception of her capabilities during this crisis.

However, she admitted it herself ... "She is standing on the shoulders of Giants"

All of those unsung giants are doing what they know best. Stepping up to the plate and getting things done. She is looking good because it would be political suicide to deny these giants what they need to get the job done.

[Rebel1]

Originally Posted by Donunder

Let's hope that when the photo ops of the crisis have begun to fade away, Anna Bligh continues to stay out of the way of people like Major General Mick Slater who has been drafted to oversee all phases of the recovery and reconstruction programme. This guy sounds like the real deal and it is to be hoped he has the strength and support to withstand any political white-anting of his position when the really tough decisions concerning deployment of resources and funding have to be made.

His job has to be free of pressure from both sides of politics, as well as interference from any of the competing interest groups. Time will tell if he's a paper tiger, or someone in the mould of the late and great Clem Jones who was appointed to rebuild Darwin after it was smashed to pieces by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day in 1974. That he did so by famously cutting through all levels of red tape and standing on not a few toes and bruising the egos of many a local politician and bureaucrat, has become the stuff of legend.

Times have changed and we may never see the likes of Clem Jones again, but I hope that Mick Slater has the guts to keep Clem's spirit alive in the forthcoming years, for Queensland's sake.

Totally agree Donunder. I hope the Major General has that fire and I suspect he does. He has a quiet confidence that I suspect could turn very toxic to any-one standing in his way.

[HSVREDSLED]

Originally Posted by Baz

We are thinking of you guys up north and pray that everything works out.

Being an ex-cop with extensive experience in Disaster Recovery, my thoughts go out to all the families who have lost loved ones.

One positive that has come out of this besides the fighting Queensland spirit, is my opinion of your State's Premier Anna Blyth. Prior to the floods, I thought about as much of her as I did of our NSW Premier and the Prime Minister. I couldn't stand any of them. To Premier Blyth's credit her performance over the past week or so has extensively lifted her profile in my eyes.

I am used to working with big mouthed politicians who float around in emergent situations, shaking hands, hugging people and kissing children, besides getting in the way of those that are doing the real work at the coal-face.

Premier Blyth has stood this test and came through with flying colours. Congratulations Anna. You are making the big and correct decisions, but at the same time, keeping out of the way and letting those persons trained in Emergency Management get on with their jobs. She displays all the traits of true leadership and is a person that all Queenslanders can be proud of. This is why you guys will come through this and be a much closer community as a result.


Baz

My thoughts exactly. In crisis, people want to be led. Its better for a leader to lead and make a few poor decisions, than a leader to run and not lead at all.

I compare Christine Nixons performance during the Vic Bushfires to Anna Blighs during the floods.

Similar Mayor Guiliano's leadership during Sep 11. True leaders stand out regardless of political influence.