On Wednesday last week the floodwaters were rising rapidly behind Mum’s house we feared the worse. She’s just turned 80 and while she’s an amazing dynamo, she lives alone and was facing a floodpeak by herself while the rest of the family around Australia could only stay in touch and wait helplessly for what might happen.  My sister lives in Fig Tree Pocket and as the suburb went under and water came into her garage she took in friends who’s house went and again the family waited and hoped for the best.

My aunt’s house was flooded, my cousin’s house was flooded …. but they’re safe.  My sister and her family are safe and the water stopped just over a metre below Mum’s floorboards, and she is safe. We are incredibly grateful.

So many people are far worse off than our family.

But it has created so many other families – families of communities, of towns, of Queensland, of Australia and of people who share interests, like the Writers and Readers family. And every family is resolute in their commitment to help.

The Queensland floods have caused heart-wrenching devastation. The tragedy of the flash floods in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley, the many deaths and still missing people, the sheer scale of the flooding through Ipswich and Brisbane is hard to express and certainly hard to take in.

The Courier Mail has a somber album of flood images at  http://media01.couriermail.com.au/multimedia/4days/day1/index.html

NearMap receives a gold star for their amazing website (really you must look) and the Queensland Police Service’s Facebook page has been extraordinary – a real achievement as a reliable place for information.

We know that about 11,900 homes in Brisbane have been completely flooded and a further 14,700 partially affected. Tragically 17 are confirmed dead but this could rise to over 30. Some bodies may never be found.

Volunteers are out there helping their family, neighbours, colleagues and more often than not complete strangers. Emergency workers across the state have spent the last month doing their damndest to prevent or mitigate damage from the floods, care for the dispossessed or help reconstruct after floodwaters recede. Families are looking at the rubbish piled on footpaths that was once their treasured belongings or at their homes that have been dreadfully damaged and wondering how on earth they start again.

So many people must be exhausted and yet they are continuing to battle on with a spirit of camaraderie and grim determination that has brought tears to the eyes of many around the world.

Those who are in flood areas are out on the streets or in support centres working. What can the rest of us do?

Firstly go to the Qld Premier’s Disaster Recovery Fund and donate money.

Donating clothes (washed, folded and labeled) and household goods to your local charity is a great idea. They’ll know best how to get these to Queensland and arrange distribution to those in need.

Our Writers and Readers Family is also getting active in fundraising efforts, such as the following:

100 Stories for Queensland: Writers across the world rally for flood victims. 100 Stories for Queensland is a charity anthology of stories donated by the global writing community following in the footsteps of 100 Stories for Haiti and 50 Stories for Pakistan. Submissions of short stories in any genre, of between 500-1,000 words, are being accepted now and the book will be released at the end of February. 100% of profits will be donated to the Qld Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.

For more information check out the website at  http://100storiesforqueensland.org/?p=7 follow the twitter hashtag at  #100storiesforqld or contact Jodi Cleghorn in Brisbane, at email: storiesforqld[a]emergent-publishing.com or Twitter: @jodicleghorn

RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal The Romance Writers of Australia has formed a Flooded Communities Book Appeal. As they say, “ We know that for many affected families, books will not be high on their priorities list for some time to come. But… we also know how valuable books can be in providing time out when reality gets tough.”

They need any type of book so long as it is in new or near-new condition and they will arrange distribution to any libraries, schools, local centres etc. Send your books to
RWA Flooded Communities Book Appeal
PO Box 1717, Noosaville Post Office, Noosaville BC, Queensland 4566

For more information go to the RWA Website.

Queensland Writers Centre: Writers on Rafts In response to the natural disaster that is sweeping the state, QWC is developing a national fundraising initiative, Writers On Rafts, to be launched mid next week. So far over 50 authors, agents, publishers and organisations have pledging time, advice, workshops, characters and books to the cause. Keep an eye on their website for more information http://writersonrafts.com/

After The Rain ebook appeal. FableCroft Publishing have been putting together an anthology of short stories called After The Rain, which is due for release soon. This limited (only on sale until February 15, 2011) ebook edition is being sold as a fundraiser for Queensland Flood Relief Appeal. All donations will go to the Appeal. have a look at FableCroft’s wesbite for more information!

Authors for Queensland are auctioning off a large range of books. Many are signed by authors, or a pre-release – so this is a wonderful way to get a treat as well as support the flood crisis fundraising. Check out their site!

The Last Piece Raffle Author and quilter Sarah Fielke is raffling off a quilt called Flutter By that was showcased in the last issue of Australian Quilter’s Companion.  Go to her blogspot here for more information.

Let us know of any other Writer and Reader fundraising activities you know about and we’ll do everything we can to help spread the word.