It is good to see Pacific Magazines go with a different look for New Idea with the alternative flood related cover on the back of the magazine.
Yesterday, we placed the flood special feature cover on display in the regular magazine fixturing and with newspapers. We felt that the emotion of the image would work better than the more traditional cover – especially given the on-going flood challenges in Victoria and the coverage on the news. Sales have been strong as a result.
Was able to get into a couple of flood stricken suburbs today with a couple of mates to lend a hand. People were very pleased to see us whenever we called into their house or unit.
I met Joan, a widow in her early sixties, on the footpath outside of her unit. Her face was like the middle of a book – not knowing the beginning or the end of the story, you could tell the middle of the story had Joan crying, devastated, shocked and lost BUT her spirit was alive.We entered Joan’s – 1965 built – 1 bedroom unit. She explained that about a foot of mud was through her unit after the river had receded. In her street was a pile of rubbish that was about a metre or so high, which included everything she owned – except for her mudcaked 1984 Toyota that was waiting to be towed away as a write off – that extended for the full length of the street. A self employed bobcat operator and his mate, who is also self employed, have volunteered their equipment and time for the week to help clean up the footpaths of Brisbane. Rats getting into the rubbish on the foot path is also a worry for the residents of the flood affected areas.
On a normal day sitting on Joan’s small balcony with a cup of tea looking at the river would have been something she enjoyed but ‘The Enemy’ – now – was still flowing very quickly. It had dropped about 3 to 4 metres below the height of its most destructive level. The 2 floors above Joan’s unit were unscathed but had the extra metre been reached and you look around the area at the watermark levels, there would have been a whole new ball game out there. We did as much as we could at Joan’s unit in preparation for the water truck to be able to hose it out with a chlorine wash.
With a smile breaking out on her face, Joan said ‘I can’t thank-you enough’. It was a thank-you that you knew came straight from her heart. Without knowing the end of the ‘story’ you just know her spirit will get her through.