Like most Australians, I’ve been watching in dismay for the past couple of weeks as heavy rainfall across the state of Queensland has produced wide-spread flooding. The flooding has affected both the coastal side of the Great Dividing Range, and the western, inland parts of the state. The latter floodwaters are moving slowly through the inland river system and inundating vast tracts of agricultural land and many small communities, washing away roads and railway lines, filling coal mines, drowning homes, equipment, livestock, crops, and wildlife. The coastal floods, pouring down the steep escarpment of the east side of the Great Dividing Range, have often moved more quickly, swamping larger coastal communities. This week we’ve seen the huge tragedy and loss of life from flash flooding in Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley, and that wall of water making its way down to flood large areas of Ipswich and the state capital, Brisbane.
The north of my state, New South Wales, has also been affected, and a number of towns are still under threat of flooding. I live right on top of the range, and am in no danger, especially as our rainfall, although higher than usual, is nowhere near the deluge levels being experienced further north.
Because of the scale of the disaster – an area the size of France and Germany combined has been affected – the cost to individuals, families and small businesses will be huge.
I hate feeling helpless, and am not able to do much. However, one thing I can do is to donate 50% of all my pattern sales for the month of January to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal. So, if you’ve been thinking about purchasing either of my patterns, for this month (at least) half of what you pay will go to flood relief. I’ll give a tally part-way through the month, and in early February.
The patterns are currently only available through Ravelry, but you don’t have to be a member to purchase them.
To purchase the Christmas Lights Shawl, click here.
To purchase the Brangian Shawl, click here.
Some other designers are also donating, and when I have a list of them I’ll post it on the blog.
