Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly in the wake of the recent flooding caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Thank you to the SES, Police and Fire personnel, Council and Energex workers, the Department of Housing, Business owners and retail staff, community groups and the many other dedicated individuals that have shown incredible commitment and resilience during this challenging time.
We saw the Bremer River at Hancock’s Bridge in Brassall rising rapidly, water is usually 7m below the bridge and in less than 9 hours, the bridge had water over it.
My Electorate, bounded by the Bremer River to the south, Sandy Creek to the north, the Brisbane River to the east and Woolshed Creek to the west, is a diverse and vibrant community.
As I stand before you today, I am reminded of the great strength of our community during adversity.
It’s a community that has faced its share of challenges, but it is a community that has always come together, united by a spirit of resilience and mutual support.
This strength has been evident throughout the recorded history of Ipswich – as early as flooding in 1893, to the floods of 1974, 2011, 2013, 2022 and now the 2025 floods. We certainly are no strangers to disaster. A part of what makes Ipswich so special is the spirit of those who live in and around the region.
It is a spirit that grows stronger when faced with adversity, one of unwavering support and mateship. We may face disasters, but we also face them together. Neighbours, families, friends offering help to their own and strangers alike. That is the greatness of our community.
It was disappointing to see the delay in the activation of the Disaster and Hardship grants for my community and wider Ipswich. Many flood impacted residents wrote to me expressing their concern at the delay and concerns that their suburbs had been forgotten.
I advocated strongly on behalf of the residents of Ipswich West and surrounding areas, alongside my colleagues in Jordan, Bundamba and Ipswich, urging the Ipswich City Council and the State Government to provide the support and assistance to all the people who had suffered across Ipswich – Thankfully this happened.
We are a community that has always bounced back and with that same spirit, we will recover again.
In times of hardship, we rise to the occasion and in the face of challenge, we do not falter – we stand united, because that is the spirit of Ipswich.
Thank you.
