Homemaking in flood-ravaged Queensland

For the rest of Australia the terrible Queensland floods of January are a distant memory. We have all moved on. However, for those who lost their homes and possessions, sometimes all they possessed, the floods are not merely a painful memory but the defining factor in their day-to-day lives as they seek to rebuild.

Brisbane-based label converter, QLM Label Makers is an enterprise that has always operated a dedicated compassion project with a combination of paid and voluntary input from its staff.

This year with the terrible impact of the floods there was little discussion where the combined efforts of management and staff would be employed. So was founded its Rebuild and Revive Program.

According to Simon Pugh, general manager, the decision to ‘rescue’ two flood-damaged houses involved the provision of labour by QLM volunteers as well as purchasing, coordinating donations and delivering materials to help reconstruct the houses.

“People really wanted to help. Everyone knew someone who had been affected by the floods. The level of support and commitment from our people makes me very proud,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Caption: Almost there: QLM volunteers, Simon Pugh, Tom Curtis, Lindsay Nutley with householders, Joe & Gwen Braga (2nd & 3rd from left) outside the house in Corinda.

Since January, QLM staff have expended hundreds of hours of tough, dirty labour on two houses in close by Oxley and Corinda that were ravaged by the floods. Supported by contributions from suppliers and industry members, the team has almost completed one restoration and is well on the way to restoring the second house.

There have been generous contributions of cash from some of QLM’s suppliers and clients including Esko Graphics, Avery Dennison, Prism Software, Iconix Inks, SBSIT, UPM Raflatac, Network Marketing, Seaton and Civic Couriers.

“It’s a big job and it takes a lot out of you. Sometimes I just wish it was all over, but you have to keep at it,” said Pugh.

Fighting its own compassion fatigue, the QLM Label Makers team is now asking the industry to make one last push and top up its contributions to help finish the job.

Contact Lindsay Nutley, marketing manager at QLM, if you can help with either a donation or some other form of assistance.

The second house (below) almost fully restored thanks to the unremitting efforst of the QLM team.