In the spirit of Valentines Day week, over 100 volunteers aboard the YWAM Medical Ship have sent their love to Townsville from Western Province in Papua New Guinea.  

The team of 107 volunteers from 13 nations gathered to take a team photo yesterday morning holding the sign, “We ♥️ Townsville!”

YWAM Medical Ships volunteer, Dr Sarah Dunn, said that the photo was taken to help express that their love is with Townsville right now as the city goes from the big wet to the big clean up.

“Townsville is the MV YWAM PNG’s home port, we would not be serving remote communities in Papua New Guinea right now without the support Townsville has given over so many years.

“From free wharfage to volunteers, to hundreds of generous businesses – Townsville has helped make the vision a reality, and literally hundreds of people in remote communities benefit from the city’s generosity on a daily basis.

“We have been following the news from up here and are devastated to see what the city is going through right now. The photo we took yesterday was our small way of saying – our hearts are with you Townsville!”

The team is currently serving alongside local health teams in Daru Island, Western Province. 27 Townsville residents or students residing in Townsville are currently aboard.

A special highlight from the week was treating 97-year-old PNG veteran who served with both PNG and Australian defence forces during WWII.  The man who had had a stroke and was housebound in his village, a ways up a river. The YWAM team ventured out to do a home visit and found a well cared for elderly gentleman proudly wearing his Australia – PNG medal on his t-shirt.  His family had carried him outside into the fresh air where the team, including a Townsville physiotherapist, assessed him and provided some education and exercises to help improve his mobility.

The man’s story is a heart-warming reminder of Australia and Papua New Guinea’s special bond!

We all have precious items and mementos that we would be heartbroken if we were to lose or see them damaged beyond repair. Photos, Heirlooms, Antiques and Collectibles, all often go beyond financial value in their value to us.

So here to encourage us that we don’t need to throw away all of these items following the floods is Lydia Egunnike,  Museum Development Officer for Southern Inland Queensland with Queensland Museum. Also an expert conservator, I got to catch up with her about salvaging those much loved items that are priceless. Here’s that interview here.

She’s also written a great blog and provides resources you can use when dealing with flood and mould damaged collections.

Photo credit: abc news 

Townsville residents living in suburbs hit hardest by the record rain event are urged to start preparing for the upcoming bulk waste blitz.

Local Recovery and Resilience Group Chair Les Walker said a surge of Australian Defence Force personnel will hit the streets of Townsville’s worst impacted suburbs on Monday and Tuesday to collect flood waste materials removed from domestic and residential properties over the weekend.

“I urge residents in the Collection Zones to remove as many flood-damaged items and materials from their homes as possible over the weekend, where it is safe to do so,” Cr Walker said.

“The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES) will be on hand throughout the weekend to assist with clearing accessways and cleaning houses in those suburbs, as well as moving flood-damaged hard rubbish to the kerb for collection.”

QFES is also providing support to residents outside of the Collection Zone including at Alligator Creek, Bluewater, Gumlow and Nome.

Team Rubicon Australia will commence clean-up assistance and help co-ordinate volunteers from Wednesday.

To see if your street is within the Collection Zone,  visit townsville.qld.gov.au

Cr Walker said the recovery effort is well underway with city-wide road clearing expected to be completed by the weekend.

“Townville City Council and Australian Defence Force personnel are currently out in force with heavy machinery removing silt, mud and rocks from roadways,” he said.

“Council dumps and tips will be readied for the massive clean-up effort.”

Additional Information:

Council has also organised extra locations for residents to drop off flood debris. These are:

• Corner of Boundary and Brodie Street at the rear of Office Works (domestic waste and debris only)
• Murray Sporting Complex, off William Angliss Drive Annandale – Soccer field carpark (domestic waste and debris only)

The Bluewater Transfer Station will be open free of charge from Friday 8 February, Saturday 9 February and Sunday 10 February from 7am to 5pm (domestic waste and debris only)

Residents in other suburbs can dispose of flood waste items for free at waste facilities at Stuart, Hervey Range, Toomulla and Magnetic Island during normal operating hours. Bluewater will be open for additional days this weekend including Friday, Saturday and Sunday.                                                    

For residential properties that lost power, free food waste bins are available at Bunnings Domain Central, North Shore and the Murray Sporting Complex soccer field carparks until further notice.

Townsville City Council crews have begun monitoring mosquito-prone areas across the city following the unprecedented floods. 

Ground and aerial treatments of all breeding sites with increased mosquito numbers will take place after the water recedes to normal levels. 

Townsville Local Recovery and Resilience Group Chair Cr Les Walker encouraged residents to be proactive in protecting themselves from mosquito bites.

“There is a high chance that mosquito numbers are going to increase following the rain and flooding,” Cr Walker said.

“While Council works on treating affected areas, I am urging residents to wear long and loose clothing, apply repellent regularly and check yards for items that may hold water.

“There is the potential for mosquitos to carry diseases such as Dengue or Ross River Fever and if you do feel unwell in any way, you should visit a doctor.”

For more information listen to local radio, phone 1800 738 541 or visit Council’s Emergency Management Dashboard