During the summer of 2010/11, the state of Queensland was ravaged by some of the most devasting flooding Australia has ever experienced. After years of crippling drought, flooding rains would isolate towns and tear communities apart. On the 10th of January, a deluge hit already saturated ground across South-East Queensland, with the epicentre being the Lockyer Valley region and the small town of Grantham.
Rising from the Flood: Moving the Town of Granthambegins with the story of Grantham residents who experienced the flood event, and the people who risked their lives to help in the aftermath. Scenes of utter devastation emerged, but also tales of heroism, survival and community spirit. From resilience in the face of disaster the Grantham community, led by Mayor Steve Jones, would embark on a most ambitious project to move to higher ground.
Rising from the Flood: Moving the Town of Grantham eBook
Told in the first person, Rising From The Flood details how Jamie Simmonds was recruited only days after the flood by Mayor Jones. Steve would ask Jamieto create and direct the ‘Strengthening Grantham Project’, an ambitious undertaking that would offer devastated residents a chance to relocate to higher ground less than one year from the flood that ravaged the region. This is not just a story about how a community was successfully relocated so quickly, but also a story about why the community chose to move. It’s a tale about hope, sacrifice, consequences and sticking to a vision of keeping a community together. Through a most unlikely friendship, Mayor Jones and Jamie Simmonds would form a partnership that would take them through the highs and lows of this iconic journey. The Strengthening Grantham Project is regarded globally as a leading example of a successful town relocation. In a world facing a changing climate, more people are at risk from natural disasters than ever before. With more communities having to face the real possibility of moving out of harm’s way, Rising from The Flood shows that it can be done quickly and successfully by always putting people first.