From the Director-General
At this time of the year we should be focusing on the new school year and our normal working lives. Instead, large numbers of Queenslanders must rebuild their lives after the worst flooding in the state’s history.
It has been a tragedy of an unprecedented scale. The damage wrought by floodwater – to our homes, businesses, schools, roads and vital infrastructure – will take many months to repair or restore.
Queensland has seen many natural disasters but never one that has battered at our community fabric as these floods have.
As the lead agency responsible for community recovery functions, the Department of Communities has been at the forefront of flood response operations. Across the flood zones, the department has set up and run recovery centres at halls and schools, where our staff provide residents with information, advice and practical support.
For those worst-affected householders needing such basics as food or clothing, recovery workers make Personal Hardship Assistance and Support Grants. Department outreach teams at the centres drive out to homes still accessible by road, providing emergency grants and assessing whether householders are eligible for other financial assistance.
I want to take this opportunity to thank not only members of these department teams, but every single government or volunteer worker whose efforts – often in daunting circumstances – have played a part in helping Queenslanders get back on their feet.
We all share the greatest admiration for the flood victims, people who refuse to see themselves in this light and must rebuild stricken homes and businesses. Their resilience, courage and determination has shone through and will ensure the survival
of their communities.
Linda A. Apelt
Director-General
Ethan Barnes
Young volunteer
While most teenagers are still in bed at 7am, 17 year old Ethan Barnes is helping those in need.
Every Thursday for the past three years, Ethan and a group of fellow students at St John’s School have provided the ‘Big Breakfast’ barbeque for a group of men marginalised from the community.
Despite juggling a busy final year at school, Ethan ensured he made time to cook breakfast and lend an ear.
“I have come to know their stories and learn about their lives. We’re all kind of a family, a small community that looks after each other,” Ethan says.
“I look forward to seeing them every Thursday, rain, hail or shine,” adds the young man who received a 2010 Queensland Young Volunteer Award.
Nadia Beer, AO
Mental health advocate
Psychologist Nadia Beer’s peers paid the highest tribute to her advocacy work when she was awarded the 2010 Earle Duus Award during Mental Health Week.
It followed the Brisbane woman’s 2009 award of an Order of Australia Medal, which recognised more than 30 years of community service “through her many roles in mental health advocacy”.
Nadia established The Office of the Patients’ Friend at the then Wolston Park Hospital in 1977, Australia’s first in-house mental health advocacy service, and has provided patient support since.
Colleagues say the stalwart of The Park – Centre for Mental Health in Wacol is known for her leadership and compassion.
“It’s important that when you take away someone’s freedom they understand what rights they have and that they are treated with dignity, respect and consideration,” she says.
Ian Chill
Disability mentor
Cairns man Ian Chill hasn’t let his wheelchair stop him from doing anything – even bungy jumping.
An access officer with Cairns Regional Council, Ian is a regional peer mentor with the Spinal Injuries Association of Queensland. He sustained paraplegia in an accident in 2004.
“When your life completely changes, it helps to have someone there who has been through the same thing – someone who can say ‘I know how you feel’ and it’s the truth,” Ian says.
He hasn’t forgotten his own feelings of isolation when he left hospital after the accident.
Of his mentoring role, he says: “People are keen to hear what they can do. I can tell them they can get involved in a range of activities such as sporting wheelies, water skiing and hand cycling.”
Raylee Taylor
Volunteer
For the past 16 years, Raylee Taylor has been the driving force behind Care for Life: Suicide Prevention Association Inc, helping to equip people with the ability to assist in the prevention of suicide.
“A lot of suicides are preventable and it is important that we all know we have the ability to do something that may help prevent it happening to our loved ones,” she says.
Raylee also produced the Youth Suicide Prevention Program for Queensland TAFE, which has since been distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand and was invited by the World Health Organisation to present a paper on suicide prevention for an international conference in India.
“At the end of the day, suicide affects our friends, family and colleagues and I feel we must do everything we can to help get the message of suicide prevention out into the community,” Raylee says.
Lyn Forster
Volunteer carer
Lyn Forster has dedicated much of his life advocating, representing and volunteering to help people with a mental illness.
His involvement began when his wife was diagnosed with a serious mental illness 40 years ago and Lyn has been her carer ever since.
For the past 10 years Lyn has volunteered at the Cairns Base Hospital in the Mental Health Unit. “I do it because there’s a need for it and I enjoy helping people,” Lyn says.
“I can see these people have no one to talk to, often no family nearby, so I go down and have chats with them over a cup of coffee.
“What is important to me is that they live a life as near normal as they can get – to hold down a job and live independently.”
Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation Volunteer Program
Betty Lee
Educator
Brisbane teacher Betty Lee has spent more than 25 years teaching students with a disability.
She is dedicated not only to giving these students the best possible education but to helping them gain appropriate employment. This involves many hours after school spent visiting local businesses and students’ families.
“Fortunately, over the years many local employers have been prepared to give these children a chance,” she says.
“I am driven by knowing that by being employed, children will gain skills, identity, self-esteem and important networks.”
Thanks to her tenacious groundwork, children with a disability have been given work experience with a broad range of local businesses. Betty won the Education and Arts Award in the 2010 Disability Action Week awards.
Rod Walters
Disability advocate
For the past 30 years Rod Walters has been advocating to achieve reforms and improve outcomes on behalf of people with a disability.
Rod, who sustained a spinal injury in 1978, has been a driving force for numerous disability organisations including National Disability Service, Lifetec and the Spinal Injuries Association. His efforts contributed to the establishment of subsidised taxis for people with a disability.
“I’m passionate about two things; advocating on behalf of the people, but also having organisations to provide services to people with disabilities,” Rod says.
“The reason why I volunteer is because I want to give back to the community what the community gives back to me.”
Rod won the individual category in the 2010 Disability Action Week awards.
Therese Webster
Volunteer
Aunty Therese has spent the past 21 years volunteering for the Queensland Cancer Council, where she is currently chair of the Lockyer Valley branch.
“I first started volunteering when I was nine years old, acting as a big sister at a children’s home,” says the Laidley woman who won a 2010 Premier’s Award for Queensland Seniors.
“I now know you are never too old to help other people out and it is an absolute joy that I can be in a position today to still help others.”
Aunty Therese is also heavily involved in work with local Indigenous women and girls. She is also secretary of the Laidley Ambulance Committee, area coordinator of Blenheim Neighbourhood Watch and a volunteer literacy tutor.
Department of Communities Seniors
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