Not this time Yasi
After a day of bursting into tears at the gym, and shaking uncontrollably on the tram; A night of heavy drinking to subdue the nerves and sleeplessness we have confirmation that both my family and Karl's are okay after Cyclone Yasi. The most severe part of the storm went through Tully and Innisfail which are about an hour from Cairns. I am so relieved and kind of surprised that Cairns fared the best of all the towns in the path of Yasi. I am overwhelmed with joy that my family is okay (I am yet to hear from my brother but he was further away from the danger zone still).
This has been one of the most stressful experiences of my life. It's so hard to watch towns that were so much a part of your childhood be turned into a pile or rubble and mud. It is difficult to stand helpless, several states away, while your family lives through the worst storm in Australian history. This experience has also shown me the true soul of many of the people I know. I have had so many kind words of support offered to me from my close friends and even those people I don't know too well..ahem...my gym instructor who I cried all over yesterday. I am also surprised at the lack of sensitivity and regard that some of my closer friends have shown in this stressful time. I have also grown more attached to my Queensland heritage. Watching the news and talking to friends and family in Cairns, I heard the same solidarity, the same sense of surety that "everything will be fine".That is just the small-town, Queensland mentality. And, while I hate most facets of the small town ideology, the sense of camaraderie and support in small towns is overwhelming. You just do not get that in a city like Melbourne. This has truly been an eye-opening experience.
Now we wait. We wait to see the full extent of the damage, the real ruins of Tully and Innisfail. We wait and see. And, even though the destruction is horrific and people have lost everything they have, I know that in true Queensland spirit, "She'll be right, mate".
This has been one of the most stressful experiences of my life. It's so hard to watch towns that were so much a part of your childhood be turned into a pile or rubble and mud. It is difficult to stand helpless, several states away, while your family lives through the worst storm in Australian history. This experience has also shown me the true soul of many of the people I know. I have had so many kind words of support offered to me from my close friends and even those people I don't know too well..ahem...my gym instructor who I cried all over yesterday. I am also surprised at the lack of sensitivity and regard that some of my closer friends have shown in this stressful time. I have also grown more attached to my Queensland heritage. Watching the news and talking to friends and family in Cairns, I heard the same solidarity, the same sense of surety that "everything will be fine".That is just the small-town, Queensland mentality. And, while I hate most facets of the small town ideology, the sense of camaraderie and support in small towns is overwhelming. You just do not get that in a city like Melbourne. This has truly been an eye-opening experience.
Now we wait. We wait to see the full extent of the damage, the real ruins of Tully and Innisfail. We wait and see. And, even though the destruction is horrific and people have lost everything they have, I know that in true Queensland spirit, "She'll be right, mate".