Folks - Power went back on at our home last night and I'm back at work today.
I've just seen this and a few other threads - I thank you all for both your concern and help. You folks are fantastic and it's good to know a message can get onto the forum and help is then not far away. 
One thing I have learned is this - people just don't fully understand the ramifications of being flooded until it actually happens to you. The last thing I want to do now is have an exchange with anyone in particular, but I feel I can say some things now having been right in the thick of it....
1) First and Foremost - I'm a Ipswich bloke now and forever more - the spirit and generosity of so many people here was simply incredible and very moving. Example - We were sandbagging with all our neighbours once our own preparations were complete. An old local digger turned up to try to help out, but he was unable to physically help, so he recited powerful bush poetry, in the driving rain, to lift our spirit. It was surreal. It was magical. It embodied all that is good and strong in our Australian spirit. Everyone around here now knows each other better, and many people here are now new friends.
2) After having gone through this, I'd respectfully suggest to those here who "know it all" and live far away from all this to think carefully about slagging off things such as the payments folks are receiving for being without power, for example. The last thing I have time for right now is to explain a contrary position, but these payments are very welcome to the people of Ipswich. We - like everyone else in our street - have applied for these funds too - so I actually know how it's done and that there is no possibility of unaffected people being payed without cause. It's not just about food going off in the fridge either.
3) I hope not to read ever again any crap about Australian government/ charities making payments to Pakistan, Ethiopia, Indonesia - or the Moon for that matter. A flood is a flood - people are people, and flooded people need help. People just don't know what being flooded is like until it's actually happened to them.
4) From even awful, bad events - good can be born. We often see a world full of ill feeling, road rage, us against them, etc etc - but I've now seen the very best of the Australian character and I'm damn proud to be Australian.
I thank you all again for holding us and everyone else who was in harm's way in your hearts. It was appreciated and it did lift our spirits.
Dan & Kat.
2007 Defender 110
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1993 BMW R100LT
2024 Triumph Bonneville T120 Black
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