<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/21/this-communitys-beautiful-machans-beach-residents-band-together-after-devastating-floods>
"Judy Kitching fell into coordinating an evacuation centre by accident.
She runs the Machans Beach community hall, one of the very few public
facilities in the small beachside town on the outskirts of Cairns.
The first night she was taking care of 25 people made homeless by the flood,
the second night more than 50. It was packed but everyone had a bed, was fed
and was safe.
“We had a family of little kids and brand new baby. We had a sick couple, we
had probably five dogs in here. I know you’re not supposed to have dogs in an
evacuation centre but this is Machans, what else are you supposed to do with
your dogs?”
Kitching has been so busy she hasn’t been back to her house, which was
completely destroyed. She has lived there since 1979.
The first time she was asked why, when she lost everything, she chooses to help
others she spoke vaguely about insurance. But the second time she gave the real
answer.
“Well, community. This community’s beautiful.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
