Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Rising waters bring hardship to Townsville but also bring out the best in the human spirit

byJoe Higgins
4 February 2019 - Updated on 1 April 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA

“In my street alone, the collective group of about six families everyday has been out with sandbags, tarps, cleaners, everything you could possibly imagine."

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Rising waters: “In my street alone, the collective group of about six families everyday has been out with sandbags, tarps, cleaners, everything you could possibly imagine.”

FLOODS have inundated thousands of homes across Townsville Diocese and left many more without power, leading to experts declaring the weather a “once in a century event”.

Townsville Bishop Tim Harris said he reached out to parishes across the diocese via text message, telling them to “stay safe”.

While Bishop Harris wishes to get out there to the parishes, he said, the waters simply made that impossible.

“So many people have lost so much,” he said.

“That brings with it it’s own trauma for sure, and you can’t deny that trauma, because there are priceless things in those houses, memories.”

But, Bishop Harris said people were rallying together, “there’s no doubt about that”.

“People in the north do know these extremes, and they are resilient, no question,” he said.

“Whether they’re in the city or in the west, they’re realistic, they’re salt of the earth people.

“Their kind of view is – we’ve got a tear in our eye, but we’ll get over it mate.

“That’s the spirit up here.”

Related Stories

Fr Neil Muir installed as Holy Spirit Seminary rector

Centacare called up to help with hardest-hit families in Maryborough floods, Lismore bishop gives hope to his flock

Flood swamps Ash Wednesday plans for Maryborough faithful

Tough times: “Whether they’re in the city or in the west, they’re realistic, they’re salt of the earth people.”

Bishop Harris praised the efforts of rescue workers, emergency services and the defence force for helping marooned people get to dry land.

Ryan Catholic College secondary teacher Lyall Herlihy said his home was inundated on Sunday.

“The water is about waist deep in our street,” he said.

“We sandbagged all the entrances, (but) it rose above the sandbags.

“There are many people in the same situation.”

Mr Herlihy said while things were tough, “the human spirit that’s come out of this has been phenomenal”.

“In my street alone, the collective group of about six families everyday has been out with sandbags, tarps, cleaners, everything you could possibly imagine,” he said.

“Everyday they’re helping each other.

“An absolute highlight of how good humans can be when times are tough.”

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Have you blessed anyone today? Christian Brother Brian Grenier sheds light on the age-old practice

Next Post

Crossing a ‘void’ for the poor, a Christian Brother’s journey to the heart of the village

Joe Higgins

Related Posts

Fr Neil Muir installed as Holy Spirit Seminary rector
QLD

Fr Neil Muir installed as Holy Spirit Seminary rector

8 March 2022
Flood swamps Ash Wednesday plans for Maryborough faithful
QLD

Centacare called up to help with hardest-hit families in Maryborough floods, Lismore bishop gives hope to his flock

4 March 2022
Flood swamps Ash Wednesday plans for Maryborough faithful

Flood swamps Ash Wednesday plans for Maryborough faithful

1 March 2022
Next Post

Crossing a 'void' for the poor, a Christian Brother's journey to the heart of the village

‘God’s in the midst of all this, working through all the people volunteering to help,’ Bishop Tim Harris says as major flooding hits North Queensland

Walls and division bring only suspicion and fear, be bridge builders and champions of unity

Popular News

  • Plenary Council assembly reaches decision day about the Church role of women

    Vote over role of women disrupts Plenary Council assembly

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Plenary Council assembly reaches decision day about the Church role of women

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Plans for indigenous elements, memorials to trauma, to complement Catholic liturgy

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Mass with signs of indigenous respect launch historic Plenary Council assembly

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Called to share the message of Jesus at mission school

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Caritas Australia Richard Landels

‘We must act now’ – Caritas Australia chief says Ethiopian food crisis is acute

by Hannah Kennelly
6 July 2022
0

RITAS Australia chief executive officer Kirsty Robertson has called for an immediate response for ugent famine prevention...

Plenary Council assembly reaches decision day about the Church role of women

Vote over role of women disrupts Plenary Council assembly

6 July 2022
Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk.

Pope Francis condemns Independence Day parade attack and calls for end of violence

6 July 2022
Plenary Council assembly reaches decision day about the Church role of women

Plenary Council assembly reaches decision day about the Church role of women

6 July 2022
‘For the moment, no,’ – Pope Francis dismisses resignation rumours in wide-ranging interview

‘For the moment, no,’ – Pope Francis dismisses resignation rumours in wide-ranging interview

5 July 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping