Hope floats at Milpera

24 January 2011

Dirty work ... Volunteers Catherine Stanley and Derek Young at work cleaning up devastated Milpera State High School

By Rick Morton

There are some things the water cannot wash away.

Milpera State High School, a school for immigrants in Chelmer, Brisbane, was inundated like so many other communities when the river rose but principal Adele Rice says the community will bounce back.

'Hope floats and so will we,' she said.

While the buildings can be replaced and the mud will eventually be hosed down, it was saving the student's memorial garden that was most important.

'That garden is so special, it has plaques for students and family members this community have lost.

'Some students lost their parents before they even made it to Australia and this is a spot for them to come and remember.'

In the aftermath of the flood, the garden was flattened by the water and then coated in thick sludge.

A single person might wonder where to begin the cleanup, but Milpera SHS had an entire team of volunteers turn up with shovels and wheelbarrows to restore the garden to its former glory.

'We've had past students text me and offer help, just yesterday I had a group of 10 Sudanese boys in here helping with the cleanup.

'Two days ago you couldn't get in here except by boat and now look at this, we're working on getting the gardens back bigger and brighter than ever.'

Derek Young is supposed to be at work - he is self-employed and every day he misses out he doesn't get paid - but instead he is behind the shovel in the gardens doing what he can.

'You can't help but feel sorry for them and when you can do anything to lend a hand, you do it,' he said.

'I was volunteering up at Innisfail SHS after Cyclone Larry and I'm doing the same here because it's the right thing to do.'

The garden will bloom again.