A good news story from Eastern Australia
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339930)
Rockingham, Australia
March 2, 2022 7:52pm CST
The eastern states of Australia, particularly Queensland and northern New South Wales, have had torrential rain and flooding, the like of which has never been seen before. Phone coverage has been lost in many locations and tens of thousands have been displaced.
So I’m borrowing George Bernard Vieto’s (@Deepizzaguy) idea and writing a ‘good news’ story.
Gympie in Queensland is on the Mary River and is facing its worst flood since 1893.The river has gone from zero to 22.96 metres. Gympie has been cut off with around 300 travellers being stopped at the Monkland service station on the Bruce Highway.
Major Singh, the Sikh shopkeeper who moved from India five years ago, kept his store open from 4am to 8pm and gave out over $10,000 worth of free food and other goods. The nearby Great Eastern Motel also chipped in to look after all those who were stranded.
The worst is not over yet with more rain and thunderstorms predicted.
Photo attribution: Vicki Nunn. Taken in 2021. Levels are much higher now.
30 people like this
30 responses
@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
3 Mar 22
Hats off to Major Singh and Great Eastern Motel. . Major Singh is a true representative of Sikh community which is so well known for their selfless service to mankind, be it in India or any place in the world.
We are getting so many awful news from every corner of the world. Hopefully things will go positive. When there are stories of war and hatred, glad that we have Major Singh and others like him who restore our faith in Humanity
5 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
3 Mar 22
@arunima25
Yes a news that made me feel proud!
Such news also remind us that humanity is still thriving!
2 people like this
@arunima25 (87806)
• Bangalore, India
3 Mar 22
@JudyEv It's scary with all that's happening in the world in the recent times. We can just keep hoping for the things to get better. It's all so bad right now
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Mar 22
The situation is not good with all the flooding going on there. I've been seeing bits and pieces of the news stories about it. I hope there is an end in sight for all that rain and flooding, and that everyone remains safe.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Mar 22
@JudyEv I saw last night a news story that unfortunately said there have been deaths.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121582)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Mar 22
@JudyEv Ooh. It was at 14 when I read the news story.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
3 Mar 22
Wow that's a shame. But I enjoyed your positive story. I think it was a quote from Children's show host, Mr. Rogers - that said when bad things happen - look for the helpers. That's what your story reminded me of
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Mar 22
@FayeHazel True. We could do with a few shows showing those traits.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
7 Mar 22
@JudyEv he was quite popular had a Children's show that ran for decades "Mr.Roger's Neighborhood" - that emphasized manners, being polite, understanding, kindness (someone should put it back on the air, it's much needed now, lol)
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
4 Mar 22
How kind of the shop keeper and hotel! Community coming together in time of need, heartwarming.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Mar 22
@oahuwriter Common decent people all over the world are outraged by this invasion.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
5 Mar 22
@JudyEv
Very much so! Yesterday in the news, an uprooted Hawaii resident, now living in Budapest, helping Ukrainians.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
3 Mar 22
The Sikhs community- whether in India or abroad have been carriers of big generosity and helpfulness.
So this is no surprise.
Hats off to Major Singh!
Looks like world over, freak weather (and health) phenomenon are not abating.
And then we have mad men like Putin going to war over a frivolous reason of historical mistakes(as per him)!
Alas, such tough days
But yes a positive news.
And hats off to Great Eastern Motel as well!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
3 Mar 22
@JudyEv
Yes and even many Russians are shocked at Putin's action.
Such an action could have made some sense in 1940s but not now!
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
9 Mar 22
@JudyEv
Not stopping even when Russians are facing a big impact of the sanctions.
This happens when a country has leaders with absolute powers and who don't care about their own citizens.
It's not as if India or other countries have everything perfect.
Yet at least there is some democratic accountability.
Democracy is a farce in Russia and some other countries.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Mar 22
@JudyEv - I have heard about the flooding in Australia. I did not know, though, that they are expecting MORE rain. How terrible.
I saw an interesting story about the flooding, too. It was a photo of a large snake swimming through the flood waters, and on its back were two little mice, a cute green frog, and a large beetle. They were all hitching a ride through the flood waters on the back of a snake! I do not know if the snake was doing a good deed, or just thought he was bringing his lunch with him!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Mar 22
@JudyEv - I am sooo sorry to hear about all this flooding. There has been a little about it in our news, but mostly our news has been dominated by the Russians attacking Ukraine. It has been heartbreaking to see women and children walking for days to get to the border with Poland. I feel so sorry for those people.
I know how damaging flooding can be, though. It seems to me, too, that once an area has had bad flooding, it can be prone to it happening again in the future. This is very distressing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 22
@DeborahDiane The war news and the flooding are vying for top spot here. It is just awful what Russia is doing. I wish the West would do a bit more to stop him but I'm sure there are many factors to consider. Hopefully, the financial restrictions might make him pull his horns in a bit.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Mar 22
The floods are nowhere near over. There are more evacuations now in the suburbs of Sydney.
That's funny about the snake. One cow was found hundreds of kms from where she lived and another photo showed a young bull standing on a roof. The damage has been horrendous.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (46951)
• India
3 Mar 22
@Shiva49
Yes and we are even hearing of great folks who are helping people in Ukraine.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180685)
• United States
4 Mar 22
That is horrible, but in these days of climate change and global warming, I suppose events like this will become more and more commonplace. Thank Goodness for Major Singh!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Mar 22
I think they will become more common too. I'm just so happy I'm over here and not in the middle of it all.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16763)
• China
4 Mar 22
What a heart-warming sight ! The shopkeeper and Great Eastern Motel's gave generously to people that were left stranded.Disasters have no mercy,but humans do.
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
4 Mar 22
It is good of the shopkeeper to help.
1 person likes this
@lookatdesktop (27134)
• Dallas, Texas
8 Mar 22
Good story. Shared on my Facebook . Thanks for sharing this story.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar 22
Thanks for doing that. I hope it results in more business for him when all this is over.
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Mar 22
One road had about a dozen small boats on it going from house to house rescuing people.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
5 Mar 22
Major Singh is such a very good person.He helped people in need.!Volunteerism is much welcome in such trying times.
1 person likes this