Let Them Eat Cake

January 18, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

2011 has started in Australia with floods and fires from one end of our massive country to the other. Lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed and communities have been thrown into chaos.

The hardest hit state has been Queensland which has seen massive destruction.

Among those trying to lend a hand at a time of great need is the Uniting Church community from Western Australia. Cupcakes of Love is an opportunity for the people of Perth to share some love with those who have lost so much.

From 8:30 a.m. until noon this Thursday, Uniting Church members plan to sell home baked cakes at a street stall outside Wesley Uniting Church, on the corner of Hay and William Streets to raise funds for flood victims.

I’ll be there to lend a hand by broadcasting my 98.5 Sonshine FM morning radio programme in the city. If you’ll be in Perth this Thursday please head to the corner of Hay and William Streets to say hello and to buy a cupcake or two.

Andy Corkill, Mission Development Officer for the Uniting Church in the City, came up with the Cupcakes of Love idea.

Obviously we can’t send the cupcakes all the way to Queensland, but we can ask the people of Perth to buy a cupcake in solidarity with our fellow Australians who have been affected by these terrible floods.

If you’re not in the Perth area, remember that wherever you are in the world, if you’d like to help you can visit the Queensland Flood Appeal website.



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Brisbane Under Water

January 13, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

Large sections of Australia’s third largest city are now under water. This video shows how some areas of Brisbane have become completely flooded.

Even though the Brisbane River hasn’t reached the expected peaks, it’s still estimated that around 15 000 homes and businesses have been hit hard by the rising floodwaters.

The official death toll is currently at 15 but is expected to rise in coming days.

Wherever you are in the world, if you’d like to help you can visit the Queensland Flood Appeal website.



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Brisbane Braces for Floods

January 12, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
6 Comments

Although it’s not even two weeks old, 2011 is a year that will be remembered for the devastating floods covering much of Queensland and now threatening other areas of Australia. Hundreds of thousands of people will be directly affected with many years of rebuilding ahead.

It’s extremely difficult to come to terms with the magnitude of the disaster and experts are saying that there’s a lot more on the way. Queensland’s capital is bracing for the rising Brisbane River to flood around 20 000 properties in 50 suburbs with thousands expected to seek emergency accommodation.

During my morning radio program on 98.5 Sonshine FM today I spoke to Liam Renton from one of our sister stations, Brisbane’s 96five. As we talked he was standing just metres away from the swollen Brisbane River, watching the flood waters increasing.

You can hear our five minute conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player below.

Do you know anyone affected by the floods? Have you lost a home or loved ones to a natural disaster like these floods? I’d appreciate your comments.

Wherever you are in the world, if you’d like to help you can visit the Queensland Flood Appeal website.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR011211_1027.mp3]

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Amateur Video Shows Flood Devastation

January 11, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
8 Comments

2011 hasn’t started well in many parts of Australia. Not even two weeks in and it’s been a fairly wild start to the new year.

Here in Western Australia we’re dealing with destructive fire in our south and floods in our north.

Across the country in Queensland the devastating floods continue. The vision coming out of Toowoomba is astounding.

Check out the amateur video above as a couple of people capture the storm waters swelling and dragging car after car out of a car park and sending them down what moments earlier was just a small creek. At this time, eight people are dead and dozens are missing in that part of Queensland. It’s hard to get your head around the scale of the devastation.

The floods have not yet reached their peak and thousands of people are still being evacuated as the scale of the disaster grows.



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