COMMUNITY SPIRIT SHINING THROUGH

Nick Dametto

No politician wants to face a local disaster in their region. However, Nick Dametto, the Member for Hinchinbrook Shire, has stepped up to support his community by diving into the heart of the crisis.

Nick explained the difficulties the region was encountering and shared his own personal experience of the tragedy:

“Personally, it's been a very busy couple of days here across the Hinchinbrook Shire.

“We've seen everything from the flood waters rising all the way through to them subsiding.

"We have gone from a scenario of trying to save people and get people out of their homes to now, being in a situation where it's switching over into what we call recovery mode.

“We're starting to see emergency services getting out there and doing the important work of getting the community back on track.  

“We have Ergon workers out there doing everything they can to restore power to the area.  

“What I've seen is a community working together in the hardest of times.”

Mr Dametto said that his most important job to date is connecting people with the right services to get them the help they need during this devastating time.

“I've been on the ground here since Monday afternoon, and we've been doing all sorts of things in conjunction with the local disaster management group SES and emergency services to try and make sure that we're getting food to people.

“We're getting fuel to people so they can refuel their generators, everything from organising and helping organise busses and personnel into the town as well as ferrying around.

“We've had the premier of Queensland, David Crisafulli. We've had a number of ministers. Dave Janetzki, energy minister, Amanda Camm, Minister for Communities, as well as Dan Purdy, our Police Minister, visit.  

“Being able to get around and show them exactly the devastation has been important, not only to tell the story of what's happened here, but to advocate for the federal and state funding that's necessary to get us back on track.

Nick explained how the community was coping with such a catastrophic event:

“In the community, you've got to understand, people have lost everything.

“People have lost everything that they've owned.  

“Many going without insurance because of the exacerbated price of insurance premiums across the north, insurance has become unattainable for many, and some have gone without, and now will go without because they have not got that backup and support morale.  

“People's patience has been tested through this event, and they have a right to feel worn out and tired from what's happened.  

“But what I have seen, and this was what makes me immensely proud, is the community spirit shining through.

“I've spoken at nauseum about emergency services and the ADF staff that have been helping out, but we've had community members that have just stood up.  

“They don't wear a badge; they don't have a job title in this they've just fed the community.

“Thank you to everyone across the Hinchinbrook Shire who's banded together to get through this together, people who have done the best in the most trying of circumstances.

“I'm just completely heartened to continue hearing those stories coming through as flood-affected areas become reconnected with the rest of us across the Hinchinbrook Shire.  

"I want to ensure that everyone who has contributed feels recognised and appreciated. We couldn't have done it without all of you, and I sincerely thank you for everything you've done."