Family Safe And Sound And In High Spirits

On Monday the 3rd of February, Forrest Beach received the worst flooding it had ever seen.

The local emergency group full of volunteers gathered together and went door-knocking to residents to ensure they were safe, had enough food and to see if they were in need of medical supplies.

While door-knocking on Wattle Street, Maria Boeyen and Brett Stapley were safe and sound, but they had major concerns for Maria’s parents, Rita and Peter Boeyen, on Fern Street.

Water had been rising over the weekend, and they refused to leave. On Monday, the water was chest-deep, and they continued to refuse assistance from family.

With this information, the Forrest Beach disaster management group made getting them to safety a number one priority.

Queensland Fire and Rescue and Forrest Beach Surf Life Saving Club waded through the deep waters, and still with professional assistance, Maria’s mother with Alzheimer’s refused to leave.

With this news, the Forrest Beach disaster management group decided that Maria’s parents might accept help in her presence, so Maria attended the scene and stood at the end of the driveway.

With her presence, they evacuated and were taken to Maria and Brett’s place.

Maria said sometimes it’s easier to say yes to strangers than to family members.

“It all happened so quickly, with the disaster management group knocking on the door, Mum and Dad were out within an hour, or hour and a half, even getting in the boat too,” said Maria.

“The volunteers are fantastic, and so soon after I'd been contacted, we were together, straight away.”

After the initial flood water had passed, Brett visited Peter and Rita’s property to assess damage and, most importantly, retrieve a generator that had been safe from flood waters.

“It was in the highest part of the block, so it didn't even get wet. The wheel didn't even go under,” said Brett.

“We now have power, it's limited, but it's power.”

The family are all safe and in good spirits.

Peter is so happy he joked that despite all the effort people went through hopefully power doesn’t come on too soon.

“We’ve managed to keep the fridge cold for beer,” he added.

“It happened that quickly so some of the stuff that we should have taken with us, we didn't.

“But we’ve just come back from there now and it's a bit of a mess, outside and inside, but nothing that bit of hard work and time can’t fix.”