Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It has been many months since the devastating floods which caused so much heartache in the electorate of Ryan, and we have worked very hard to bring some semblance of normality back to our community. We have watched the vegetation regrow, we have watched the council repair the roads and we have watched the rubbish cleared away. We have delighted as our neighbours have begun to rejoin communities and move back into their homes. Sadly, not all of our neighbours are doing so well, and the coming of the new season seems a good time to remind ourselves that there are still friends in need and work to be done.

It was with this in mind that I attended the Flood Relief Jazz Concert on the afternoon of Saturday, 17 September with some 800 members of the community at the Fig Tree Pocket State School. It was an event organised by local resident Joanne Bullock-Saxton to raise both money and awareness of the families in the area who are still rebuilding or have not yet returned to their flood damaged homes. With two hours of music from the University of Queensland Big Band, Boston based singer Amanda Carr and members of the new Galapagos Duck band, families relaxed in the warm weather with picnics or food from the school's P&C group.

I commend the efforts of the volunteers and businesses, including Westpac, who donated money, time and resources to support our community for a successful and happy event.