So where does anyone suffering from the flood go from here?

Now is the waiting game.... and unfortunately the waiting is the hardest part. Yes to see everything fall apart, to be washed away, to find mounds of sludge everywhere and to have to take a breath and work, work, work to get everything cleaned up.  The adrenaline kicks in and you keep going, and you keep the hope that somewhere, somehow, someone will pick up the ball and tell you where the rebuilding help will come from.

But where... when?  The hardest part is the waiting game. Do they give up on a business that was finally doing better than it had ever done... in it's history? Do they start to realise that you have to move on and find other resources of income in order to survive, and give up on their dream?  These are the questions that, unfortunately, come up in a business owners mind when everything is lost and there is NOW nothing more that they can do.

Where is their help? Where is the justice? Who's to blame? Who isn't? This all goes through the thoughts of many...

BUT, there is still hope... hope that things will work themselves out, that somewhere, somehow the tides will turn (as this catastrophe did) somehow they will "know it's gonna pass, like bad weather" and financial help will come to allow everyone to get back to normal.

LET THE WAITING STOP!!! Help, Help, Help.... and whomever knows that this tragedy could have been avoided, step up and help!

$5 still helps them to push forward and fight to get back, what was taken from them.

Thank you all again for your donations!!!  David and the Drift team are, and will be, forever grateful.

Jenny  xoxo

An Update from David at Drift...

I feel it best to just allow the words that David wrote, to let media know what is happening, speak for itself:

I'm very aware that the past three weeks have been so unpredictable, chaotic and at times overwhelming, but there comes a time when I stand still.

After days of flooding and destruction, Drift was overrun with amazing volunteers. Shovelling, sweeping, tearing up floors and walls and stripping the venue to her bare bones to remove debris and mud.

Reports by professionals have been completed with the all clear given that we can rebuild. I requested an interview with the Premier's office early this week and met with Ken Smith the Director General, David Hourigan the Executive Director Economic Policy and Stephen Beckett Deputy Chief of Staff to discuss the next step forward and also to review the decisions made before, during and after the flood.

With the outcome of the meeting being 3 fold;
1.    I have been instructed to seek legal consultation on the content of the formal submission and will request legal counsel on the best way to move forward.
2.    The formal submission will be a summary of events from 11th Jan to 18th Jan which will be based on our account of events surrounding the flood event, preventative actions, statutory authority involvement and directions given.
I also aim to include a synopsis of likely costs for reconstruction of the building, interior fit-out and restocking for reopening of the business, with the construction being in accordance with local au thority, BCC requirements, Building Code of Australia, Liquor Licensing & Health Regulations.
3.    Due to the inevitable hiatus in the ability of the restaurant to operate and generate income, so as to help support smaller businesses that rely on Drift and because of the size of the business and constraints around monies being available for larger small businesses, an offer of guidance will be given from within the Economic Development Department on the best process for me to lodge paperwork for flood relief grants or from the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal or similar financial assistance or loan as soon as possible.

Slowly everything is being taken out of my hands, for someone else to decide the fate of Drift’s future. There always will remain the hope and belief that somehow, the dedication and love for her will eventually see her rebuilt.

For now, I must look toward creating inroads into what appears the unknown at this point and endeavour to find an alternative form of income and hopefully create employment for some of my staff.

My intention in the next few days is to find that opportunity.

Queensland has been hit so hard, now a cyclone has added to the rising cost of rebuilding a huge state. My awareness of the ongoing ‘tough’ days ahead of thousands of Australians is close to my heart with my own reality at this time being survival, and a positive acceptance that all will be dealt with, albeit in time.

I am so grateful to the media for the overwhelming support, to friends and strangers who have became familiar faces in my life over the many days of continuous hard labour. I would also like to thank a small group of dedicated people who have been working with me to finalise the present situation, for someone to now decide the fate of Drift’s future.

David

5 Dollars!!!

Is it not enough?  Is it too much?  Does it seem like if you only donate 5 dollars, it's not enough to make it worth it?   IT IS!!!   If you would only see that the smallest amount does make a difference if enough people do the same... it will make a world of difference. 

I don't know how to stress enough the difference you can make.... if you only direct deposit $5... and ask your friends to do the same.....

This is all I ask, for the help of an amazing place that was just on the verge of making it!!! But it was all taken away!!!  Please just consider the small amount that can make a huge difference!

Thank you to all who have donated and/or volunteered their time.

You will be rewarded!!

Jenny

If You Haven't Seen the Volunteer Tribute Video... Please watch and Email the Link to Everyone You Know!

The cleanup of Drift definitely was a massive effort from so many selfless people.... truly a sight to see, hundreds of people working side by side... never having met before, but completely dedicated to one purpose and cause! 

People from all walks of like, all religious beliefs, all ethnic backgrounds, all ages.... the volunteer efforts have been incredible, and I feel privileged to have been one of them.

Now comes the second phase, which is the rebuilding... and this is where David and the Drift Team need your help!!!  If you weren't able to volunteer, please take 5 minutes to Mail a cheque or Direct Deposit just $5.....THEN email this blog link to 10 of your friends and ask them to do the same!
It's truly that simple.... 5 minutes & 5 dollars!

Your help is vital to getting Drift back on it's feet and rolling on the river!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!

xoxo

It's Just $5.00! But together, it is rebuilding a dream!

Some are still asking, how is it that Drift didn't have insurance... No one would insure them, because the restaurant was directly on the water.  Most businesses that have been flooded in Brisbane couldn't get flood insurance... and those that could, it was just far too dear.

This flood has effected so many, and in even more devastating ways, such as losing a loved one, which cannot be fixed or brought back.  To all those who have lost someone, my heart and feelings of love go out to you.  To those who have had homes, cars, businesses and cherished items destroyed, my sympathy goes out to you as well... and this is where we must help each other to rebuild, repurchase or salvage the things in life that we do care about...

Drift is what I am choosing to help, because I know how much this dream means to David, the Drift team and all the many people who have been there. I refuse to allow such an amazing place with such potential to die! I urge all those who have dined at Drift or been touched by the stories, news, video footage or articles about Drift to donate... JUST $5... from all over the world!

The Drift name is now worldwide... PLEASE keep it going!  Now is the time to do something, something seemingly so small... send $5 and pass this information to everyone you know!
Let David and the team at Drift know that you care... or that you at lease acknowledge their loss!

Keep the Drift dream alive.

THANK YOU!!

If You and TEN of Your Friends Donate Just $5.00...

... the difference that can make, will be worth ten's of thousands!
 

My dear friend David Moore, owner of Drift, and all of his staff have lost their pride and joy... a restaurant, jetty cafe and event centre, all in the devastating blow that was the 2011 Brisbane Flood.
David's dream was to bring a dining and live entertainment venue back into Brisbane. He had nothing but faith and determination to succeed and make Drift into an amazing place. He had to overcome major financial hurdles as well as redefine the tired venue's former poor reputation.

All within the one year, the Drift team toiled and struggled, but step after step they brought the venue to a place where they were able to win Brisbane's Best New Restaurant 2010 (for 100+ seating). Then with the success of an extremely busy Christmas Season and an amazing New Year's Eve Party, the year ended on such a high note, we couldn't have been more grateful.

I had dinner with David, his partner and a couple of friends on Sunday 9th of January at Drift, and we all had the same content feeling that 2011 could only be an incredible year, and we felt so blessed....   little did we know, only 2 days later the restaurant would be almost entirely covered (or parts washed away) by the sludge ridden waters of the Brisbane River.

All the hard work, and when I say hard... that is NO EXAGGERATION!!  Believe it or not, the money to start Drift didn't exist, they made changes to the restaurant with whatever moneys they earned or could find from friends and family.  Over 250 Chairs were hand sanded, painted, glazed and reupholstered all by Drift staff and management. Walls were painted by staff, all interior decorating ended up being done by themselves. Blood, sweat and tears is definitely a honest reflection of their labor.

Stay tuned, as I will tell you more stories of the remarkable David and Drift on this Blog Page... But Please DONATE! 

If you pass this on to 5 of your friends and ask for only $5, and they send it to 5 of their friends... in NO TIME at all, we can get Drift the money to help rebuild Drift.