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News about the disaster recovery efforts within the Gympie area.
Please send your queries or any updates and information I have missed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Details
Here are the best (as far as I can find) social media groups or channels to get or give help.
When Gympie Floods - Facebook
This one is a well established group with 16K members and was started in 2012. It is a private group so you will need to go through the joining process (which is easy).
There are stacks of helpful people in that group, where those affected can ask for help, and helpers are co-ordinating and spreading the word about what's going on.
Gympie Floods 2022 Help Donations and Support - Facebook
This group is a recent startup created by Holly Caldarone and Mandy Irvine. It has 2.8K members. It is a public group so you can just jump straight in.
There are also lots of helpful people in that group, with plenty of requests and responses.
Long Flat Flood Relief Hub Ongoing Support Team - Facebook
This group only just created to continue the work done by the Long Flat Hub folk.
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If you know of any really good groups on other social media platforms please send the info through so I can add them here. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Facebook Messenger (Graham Miller) you'll see me in the above 3 groups.
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Flood Relief Hours: Mon Wed Fri 12pm to 3pm.
Main storage and donation facility: 2 John Street, Gympie.
They have plenty of donated items. The flood assistance shed is now closed. Family Assistance will always be there to help anyone whether it is flood related or something else.
Council's recovery hub (Civic Centre) refers people here.
They would be happy to work with the other hubs to help meet the needs of flood affected people. Other hubs can refer people to Vinnies and they have been advising people to try the other hubs when they could not supply items themselves.
Conference interviews (family support), for personalised help, operates: Mon, Wed and Fri - noon to 3pm for a full range of assistance.
Shop is open and functioning at normal capacity.
What's Available
- Some clothing
- Food
- Kitchenware
- Toiletries
- Cleaning products
- Toys
- Linen & towels
What's Needed
As all the staff at Vinnies are volunteers, I'm sure they would not say no to more help.
- As they have resumed normal operations, there are no specific needs.
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Main storage facility: 735 Mary Valley Road, Long Flat (little white church).
Call Beck Honetana on 0466 251 123 or Carolyn Greer on 0413 669 696
This recovery hub is now closed. All remaining items are being shipped to P.N.G.
We are so happy to advise that we will now be continuing our flood relief operations for the community at our present location! This has only been made possible due to the incredible big hearts of the owners John Grisanti and Beck Honetana who have generously allowed us to keep using their shed!
There have been multiple truck, car, and trailer loads of donated food, clothes, pet food, linen, shoes, books, and furniture arriving from North Queensland and other places. Locals have donated out there too. A big thank you to all who have made that happen. They are collaborating with other hubs to locate a secure large shed preferably in town. If you know of somewhere contact the ladies above.
What's Available
- None
What's Needed
They are no longer taking donations.
- None
They also take cash donations, fuel cards, and vouchers and give them to needy families that turn up at the facility.
Please do not send clothing, shoes, toys, linen, kitchenware (including glasses, plates & cups), or bric-brac out to this facility; they can no longer fit these items.
You can pick up the things you need directly from the facility, or call Beck or Carolyn and they can normally arrange delivery. They have volunteers out in the affected areas locating those in dire need, making a list of their needs, picking the goods from the facility, then returning to supply them. What a great effort.
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Closed:
Main storage and donation facility: 70 Crescent Road, Gympie.
Call Mandy on 0409 475 913
This recovery hub is now closed. Left over items have gone to a local charity in Gympie and one in Rainbow Beach I have been told.
They have stacks of donationed items down there. Most came from the appeal put out on Facebook "Gympie Floods 2022 Help Donations and Support"
They are are now open to the public with no appointment necessary. They are sharing a shed with AMG Disability Support Group.
Please be aware you will need to sign in upon your arrival. Due to borrowing these premises from an extremely generous community group (who are also flood victims) please be respectful of the team & clients in/around the area when you visit.
What's Available
- None
What's Needed
- The ladies there have done an amazing job. As they are now closed, there is no longer any requirements.
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70 Exhibition Road, Southside Gympie
5482 3618
Facebook for posts on what is happening
The Gympie Wesleyan Methodist Church is supporting our community in the following ways:-
- As the weeks have passed and people have progressed through various steps required with re-building lives, we have continued to provide meals to flood-affected families but mostly as frozen meals that can be re-heated (obviously not suited to everyone if houses do not have power etc..). We’ve found this to be a much-valued service so we are continuing to offer this to those who need it for the next month or so.
Oz Harvest are partnering with us alongside Urban Angels (facebook) who will be making these meals. It is truly incredible how connections are being made to get support to where it is needed.
Gina Moore is a good contact there. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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The Disaster Recovery Hub, operated by Community Recovery QLD, at the Gympie Civic Centre, 32/34 Mellor Street, Gympie, will be closing at 5pm, this Friday 8 April.
If you were impacted by the recent flood events and still need further assistance to complete grant applications or to connect with essential support services after this Friday, you can still contact the Community Recovery team at:
- In person - at Gympie Community Place, 18 Excelsior Road Gympie, Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm (Opens Monday, 11 April and will remain open until further notice)
- Or use the more information links below
Residents can speak to a variety of Government bodies and support services including:
- Dept of Housing (for emergency housing assistance and other housing support services)
- Centrelink/Services Australia (for income support)
- Disaster Recovery Payment (DRP) ($1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible Child).
- Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant (Up to $180 per person and $900 for a family of five or more).
- Essential Household Contents Grant (A one-off payment for households who are uninsured or unable to claim insurance, $1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families).
- Essential Services Safety & Reconnection Scheme (To help owner/occupier households reconnect essential services (Up to $10,995 for single adults and up to $14,685 for couples/families).
- Information and referrals to a variety of support and other local services, including Lifeline and the Salvation Army.
- Suncorp Customer Support Team (to assist with insurance claims)
For more information visit qld.gov.au/communityrecovery or phone 1800 173 349.
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We are aware of the following:-
Flood Relief Hours: Mon Wed Fri 12pm to 3pm.
There may be restrictions on who is eligible for the free service. Qld Gov says health care card and in financial distress.
See: https://www.vinnies.org.au/shops/view/64 or call 5481 1525
See their article here.
Open: Mon - Sat 10am to 4pm.
Meals on Wheels - there have been suggestions that they are taking food donations, but this is NOT SO. They are heavily restricted in their food handling protocols due to Governmental COVID mandates. Do not drop any items there.
As other facilities come to our attention, we'll publish them here.
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This list of what's needed at this time is changing daily
We are checking in with the distribution centres to get the list below.
Clicking on the centre name will take you to their page on this site with more information about what they do and where to find them.
Help Needed
Crescent Road Hub
- The ladies there have done an amazing job. As they are now closed, there is no longer any requirements.
Items Needed
Many of the centres are calling for tents.
There will soon be many displaced people who will need to camp in their yards while cleaning and repairing their home.
Vinnies
- As they have resumed normal operations, there are no specific needs.
Long Flat Hub
- None
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Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA)
Primary producers, small business owners, and non-profit organisations can apply for disaster relief grants from recent flooding events from January and February 2022.
Grants of up to $75,000 are available for eligible producers and business owners.
I can personally confirm that these grant applications are being processed quite quickly. At my other volunteer job, we have already received funding from them to cover evac costs and relocation to new premises costs. - Graham Miller
For more information phone 1800 623 946 or visit https://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/
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BizRebuild is a business-led initiative developed by the Business Council of Australia to provide practical and on the ground assistance to small and local businesses left devastated by the floods.
I can personally confirm that these voucher applications are being processed quite quickly. At my other volunteer job, we have already received funding from them to re-establish our computer network and other office requirements. - Graham Miller
BizRebuild are currently offering two different types of vouchers to help get businesses back on their feet after the recent flood event. They are:
1. A $2000 (average amount) Re-tooling Voucher ~ Replacing tools and equipment
These are to replace assets such as tools (tradies), office equipment (offices), shelves (shops), gates (farmers), fridges (restaurants/cafes) and other practical things lost in the floods that small businesses need to get back to work.
2. A $500 Business Advisory Voucher ~ Getting businesses back on their feet
If you need expert advice to:
- provide help with finance, regulation, planning and marketing
- draw up business recovery plans
- tap into local legal and accounting services and provide vouchers up to the value of $500 to help cover costs in drawing up business recovery plans
- navigate the available government assistance and help cut through red tape
- help fill in forms
- help find jobs for displaced workers
- access mental health support services, and
- connect businesses with long-term mentors from the large business community.
You can register for the vouchers at the Help for flood affected communities or contact Biz Rebuild on 1800 497 121.
These vouchers are designed specifically to help businesses recover to create jobs, rebuild stronger communities, and restore thriving local economies.
This funding is provided, in partnership with BizRebuild, by Equity Trustees as trustee of the Community Rebuilding Trust. The trust is a perpetual charitable trust and donations over $2 to the trust are tax deductible.
The advisory committee is chaired by General the Hon. Sir Peter Cosgrove (Retd) who has firsthand experience in recovery efforts in Australia and overseas. He is joined by prominent Australians to provide independent and expert advice including John Anderson AO, Rebecca Frizelle, Danny Gilbert AM, Richard Goyder AO, Katie Page, Tim Reed, Tony Shepherd AO, Yvonne von Hartel AM and Jennifer Westacott AO.
Biz Rebuild also assists disaster recover through:
- encouraging larger businesses and the broader community to buy fresh produce, goods and services from fire affected small businesses,
- asking larger businesses to hold offsite meetings and conferences in bushfire affected areas,
- encouraging larger businesses commit to paying their bills and invoices ahead of time to help small businesses with cashflow, and
- encouraging larger businesses commit to waiving debts owed by small businesses.
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BlazeAid – a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods. Working alongside the rural families, our volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.
Our local camp is at:-
https://blazeaid.com.au/woolooga-qld-2022/
Fencing Starting: 25th January 2022
Address: Brooyar Station, 83 Brooyar Road, Woolooga (off Bauple-Woolooga Road)
Co-ordinator: Kerrie 0419 602 259
Donations and General Enquiries: Debbie Buttler 0418 990 267
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers can register now. Those with camp experience and/or fencing experience, especially team leaders, would be very helpful with setting up team structures and to support those less experienced but eager and willing to help the BlazeAid cause.
BlazeAid requires all volunteers and those who help within BlazeAid to be double vaccinated with an Australian Government approved vaccine. Medical exemptions being the only exception to this regulation. We prefer volunteers be tripled vaccinated, but it is not a requirement.
BEFORE ARRIVING: Please contact the basecamp CoOrdinator at least the day prior to your intended arrival so we can include you in a team and put your name on the dinner list. If possible, you should aim to arrive prior to 5pm.
BREAKFAST: From 7:00am
MUSTER: 7:30am Mandatory for all volunteers working that day.
**If you are volunteering for a day at a time and then returning home, you MUST be at our basecamp no later than 7am each morning and we MUST know beforehand that you are coming. If you arrive later than 7am, there is the chance you may not get assigned to a field crew that day depending on the circumstances.
MEALS: Meals are provided for volunteers, but please bring your own snacks. Breakfast and a nourishing two-course evening meal are provided by BlazeAid (with help from local community groups) at the basecamps.
BlazeAid does provide food for you to make your own sandwiches for lunch whilst you are out working on properties.
Please note, if you have special dietary needs you will need to bring your own food if you are not able to eat the meals provided.
AMENITIES: Power may or may not be available.
ACCOMMODATION: There is plenty of space for you to bring your own caravan, motor-home, swag or tent. Toilets and hot showers are available.
Accommodation for volunteers who don’t have a caravan, tent, etc, varies at the different basecamps. Please ask the Camp Coordinator for more details about the basecamp you’re going to. If you have a swag, camp stretcher, inflatable mattress, etc, please bring it with you. You will also need to bring pillows, sheets, blankets, etc.
Please remember that we are working in disaster areas, so the accommodation available may be fairly basic and power will be limited. In some areas, mobile phone coverage might not be very good.
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Main storage facility: Closed
Call Tracy on 0493 082 770
Please see this article about the closure: crown road now closed hub update 2022-03-26
What's Available
- cleaning products
- work clothes
- boots
- underware & socks
- towels
- bathroom items
- crockery & cutlery
- linen
What's Needed
They could use some more help if anyone has time.
They are currently looking:
- Plastic tubs for storage (preferably with lids)
- Power boards and extension leads
- Camping tents (family) or camping trailers
- Tables (foldup is good) and chairs
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Impacted by the recent floods? in Southern Queensland?
We provide free, impartial and confidential assistance with flood recovery to primary producers & small business ??including:
- ? immediate help to identify and access available funding
- ? support to develop your recovery plan
- ? longer-term assistance to increase farm and small business resilience.
To find out more about our rural flood recovery assistance visit ? www.rfcssq.org.au/flood
To find out more about our flood recovery assistance visit ? www.rfcssq.org.au/SBflood
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Open: Mon - Sat 10am to 4pm.
The Angels are homeless and working with all charities and hubs.
Call Dallace on 0407 498 794
They have had a large number of donationed items.
"If we don’t have it, we may know just where you can get it and help you find it."
What's Available
- mostly clothes
- food
What's Needed
Like many other helping centres, they could use some more help if anyone has time.
They are looking for:-
- Tin food
- Long life milk
- Bottled water
- Gas cookers
- Saucepans
- Toiletries and soap
- Cleaning products
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The Recovery Hub at the Church on Crown Road is now closed and we sincerely thank the folk of the Gympie Presbyterian Church who allowed us to use their church to run the recovery hub from there ❤
All items are still available for those who have been flood impacted by messaging either Naomi Wilson or Tracy Lee (if you are on facebook) or call/text Tracy on 0493 082 770. We can also help with outfitting you with a bed when you're ready ?
Please keep an eye on flood impacted neighbours who may not have social media and message us if you feel they may need a little help.
A huge thank you to:
- the many people who donated items (and those who have offered larger items) to help our community - your generosity is amazing!
- the people who turned up to share their time to help in the church or check in on those who were flood affected - your community spirit is beautiful!
- Cathy and Andrew from Nestlé for your very yummy and generous donations - every single item was and continues to be appreciated ?
- Naomi Wilson for your practical advice, listening ear and helping hands - without you things may not have been so bright ⭐️
The community spirit of our little town always shines in times of need - you rock Gympie!
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Most of our Charities and Op Shops suffered damage during the floods.
Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul) - 2 John Street, Gympie - 5482 2737
- Conference interviews with range of assistance has been operating at usual times of Mon, Wed and Fri noon to 3pm for a full range of assistance.
- FREE FOOD, toiletries, cleaning products, some kitchen supplies, toys, and a little furniture. While stocks last. Bring own bag. Ask for Frank.
- Shop open and has been all week. Food division also operating.
Salvos (Salvation Army) - 42 Stumm Road, Southside - 5482 1710
- The Op Shop is fully functional.
- There is free stuff for those affected in the church behind the op shop for the rest of this week till the 19th March.
- They are winding down the donations and not accepting any more at this time.
- They have ongoing emotional, financial, food, and clothing assistance via their welfare group.
RSPCA Op Shop - 18 Monkland Street, Gympie - 5482 3766
- flooded - 4th Mar closed due to roof issues, no donations accepted
RSPCA Shelter - Lot 6 Laurenceson Road, Glanmere - 5482 9407
- the shelter is taking pet food.
Little Haven Market Place - 68a Crescent Road, Gympie - 5481 5270
- was hit bad as well.
- They are taking donations in a few weeks.
Neighbours Aid - 54-56 River Road, Gympie - 5315 0600.
- Open: Mon - Fri 8:30am to 12pm, Sat 9am to 12pm
91.5FM Op Shop - 131 Mary Street
- currently closed. Hoping to open in the next 2 weeks again.
- Taking donations at the radio station at 31 Parsons Road.
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There have been many wonderful volunteers helping folk clean their houses. I will update this page soon to let you know how to connect with them.
Also:-
Open: 7 days/week 9am to 5pm.
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Hub Update
Today we have had announcements from the Long Flat Hub, the Crown Road Hub, the Gympie Angels, and the Crescent Road Hub.
Long Flat have confirmed that they will remain open for the forseeable future and have changed their hours. They are now open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm. They also let us know that the Gympie Angels will also be operating out there as well.
Crown Road Hub have updated their list of donations available and updated their opening hours of Mon - Fri 10am to 4pm, Sat 10am to 12noon.
The Crescent Road Hub is now open at Arlie's shed (AMG Disability Support Group) at 70 Crescent Road. It is by appointment only at this stage so please see their page here to get contact numbers.
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Hub Update
The Long Flat, Crescent Road, and Gympie Angels hubs are currently looking for a large shed close to town for the storage of all the donations that have come in. Alternatively, a couple of smaller sheds would be good too.
We have an over abundence of clothing, which combined with linen, could take a reasonable sized shed on its own.
If you know of any premises that are currently vacant and might be suitable, please call either Carolyn (0413 669 696), Dallace (0407 498 794), or Holly (0411 685 461).
Website Update
Over the weekend I have been building a bulletin board for connecting up service providers, donors and recipients. As it is in its invancy, I am lloking for feedback before making it generally available.
It currently has forums for:-
Offers of help
If you have items to donate or have time to assist those flood affected people, please post your offer here.
Requests for help
If you have been flood affected and you want or need help with cleanup and re-establishing your property, or you would like particular items to help you survive, please post your requests here.
You may need food, clothing, kitchenware and appliances, toiletries, linen, mats, furniture, or toys and more.
Service providers
Please post information about the various welfare service providers here. Providers, please post your offerings along with advice to those affected.
General flood recovery discussion
Here you can have a general chat with others about what you went through, how you are recovering, what is good or bad about the community response, dealings with government, and any other topics related to this event.
In the news
Post information and links to articles about the recent flood event here.
The bulletin board is not currently linked from this main portal site. This can be found at: https://gympiecommunitygroup.com/forum
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Latest From Gympie Regional Council
For all flood recovery information provided by the council, please visit Gympie Regional Council Flood Recovery page .
Last Updated: 16 March 2022
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