During the floods, the Capalaba Rotary Club found multiple ways to help the community, and they continue to play an ongoing role supporting community recovery.
Their contributions include working directly with homeowners as the flood waters peaked and receded. Their numbers grew as the days progressed and their tireless volunteers working in several communities including West End and Rocklea. They held a combined Rotary Garage Sale over two weekends which raised $93,000!
Terry Ryan, past Rotary Capalaba President thinks that during disasters there's something for everyone to do. "Everyone can contribute...for example, an older lady, about 70 years old, baked a cake for the volunteers."
Furthermore, the Rotary Capalaba Club have funded an interactive, 3D disaster preparedness game for kids. Shelter Box Australia is developing the game which is drawing on his personal experience of living in the cyclone-prone Whitsundays, Terry knows how important disaster preparedness is. "People don't prepare. When I lived in the Whitsunday's, every summer you got your cyclone kit ready. You have to be prepared."
The game will ensure that "children learn what to do during a disaster. Preparation for disasters is knowing what to do before, during and after a disaster."
The Rotary Capalaba club demonstrates the diversity of activities volunteers can get involved in to support their community pre, during and post disaster.
Terry says Rotary's ability to assist so effectively during and after the floods is because they were a self-supporting group. They already knew each other, could work well as a team, and had structures in place. "Capalaba didn't do anything special. We simply did what we do best."
Terry encourages people to get involved in their local community. "Identify with a group in your community. Become active in your community through sporting or community organisations... Talk to your neighbours, just do it."