Expat islanders on tenterhooks as Aussie flood waters keep rising

Wednesday 12th January 2011, 2:29PM GMT.

A stranded man clinging to a tree on a flooded street in Toowoomba is rescued by emergency workers. Flash floods swept through the northeastern Australian community killing one woman, trapping people in cars and leaving others clinging to trees. 1076956

FORMER Guernsey residents said they were stuck in a frightening waiting game as they frantically got ready to escape the floodwater rising around their Queensland home.

Sue and Richard Schofield, who moved to Brisbane in 2001, said the flooding had been bad so far, but it was going to get a lot worse.

‘We have seen a few floods before but nothing like this,’ said Mrs Schofield. ‘We have a creek that flows behind our property and it has risen about five metres since last night – the road is flooded along with two garden centres, which are under water.’

They had packed their car with clothes, photos, and other belongings and put valuables in the highest places in their house.

Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.

View more: Australia news, Floods news.

1
Darren

January 13, 2011 at 8:52 am

Nothing would make me want to leave Guernsey, unless of course I was voted off Big Brother style (i.e. no housing licence).

I can’t think why anyone would emigrate from the most beautiful place on earth?

In any case, poor sods. Looks a bit grim round Brisbane.

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2
sharron burke

January 15, 2011 at 6:08 am

as an ex pat of Guernsey and living in Hervey Bay Queensland I can only hope the Schofield family have come through the floods ok. 75% of the state of Queensland is flooded and the loss of life,and livelihoods is heartbreaking and the infrastructure will take years to recover we were lucky as we were spared the flooding ourselves but know of family and friends less fortunate . Sharron (nee Smale)

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3
slep

January 15, 2011 at 9:53 am

Darren, many people have reasons to leave the island, beautiful though the place admittedly is.
The astronomic house prices and the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped on a tiny piece of land are two of them.
Or were you being sarcastic?

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4
Rosina de la Mare

January 18, 2011 at 9:20 am

Would love to know the places you are comparing Guernsey with Darren, I am assuming you are well travelled and can therefore declare Guernsey the most beautiful place on earth from an informed perspective? If so that is wonderful, however not everyone views the island through the same eyes. I was born in Guernsey and lived there for the first 40 years of my life, as did my husband. We left Guernsey in 2001, also for a life in Australia, we settled in Perth. It has been truly amazing, lived up to every expectation, and is our most beautiful place on earth. If I had more time or inclination I would give you the reasons why we left Guernsey. I’d rather give you a few reasons why we moved to Perth; climate, attitude to life, opportunities (especially for our son), lifestyle, wide choice of entertainment, every imaginable sport, cinemas & theatres, live bands, restaurants & vineyards, shops & markets, weekends away that do not involve an airport, some of the best beaches in the world, I could go on – there’s a reason it’s called the Lucky Country and we consider ourselves very lucky to live here. The Queensland flood stories have been heartbreaking, and the losses have been huge, however there have also been an equal number of amazing heartwarming stories too. For many this is their most beautiful place on earth and they will rebuild it.

Guernsey is NOT the centre of the universe, not for everyone anyway.

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