QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA FLOODS

NEWS RELEASE – OPERATION ANGEL FLOOD RELIEF – 12th January, 2011

In response to the devastation of the floods in Queensland, Operation Angel has been reactivated for the first time since the Victorian Bushfires.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/66157/nz-mp-seeking-gumboots-for-queensland

http://progress-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/hawthorn-angels-spring-into-action-with-clothing-donations/
http://www.entoure.com.au/operation-angel/
http://marinago.blogspot.com/2009/02/operation-angel.html

“If these waves of water inundated my friends, my family, I would hope that strangers would think outside the square and their own backyards to pitch in, just as we are doing with Operation Angel – geography and distance means nothing to Australians, we are all neighbours not hampered by miles. Local companies, and now those in New Zealand, are getting behind our efforts and pulling together”, says Operation Angel’s director, Jacqueline Pascarl.

• Operation Angel will concentrate on providing material assistance to the Toowoomba area & surrounds.
• Operation Angel has a very senior former Australian Defence Force officer as co-ordinator & distribution chief in Toowoomba. Ironically, he & his wife relocated to the area only four weeks ago, but are returning locals.
• Gatton is now on the list for OA’s activities and on the advice or our Queensland co-ordinator – contact will be made with local authorities to facilitate distribution once the rescue phase has been completed.

• Operation Angel will use our co-ordinator's property, 18kms south of Toowoomba as a distribution centre – we are also working on alternative distribution point in Gatton, East of Toowoomba which has been hit very hard by water.
• Operation Angel’s Queensland base is located in Wyreema, it is positioned atop a hill with good road access (once water has receded), all weather driveway, with watertight warehouse with roller door access
• Operation Angel has secured warehousing in Melbourne at Showtech, 15 Capital Court, Braeside Victoria 3195, via Operation Angel’s co-ordinator, Robyn Good.
• Operation Angel will be taking delivery of commercial quantities of 1,600 gumboots from New Zealand company THE WAREHOUSE via New Zealand MP, Clare Curran from Dunedin in the South Island, who is a personal friend. Ms Curran is also now in dialogue with Air New Zealand to cover airfreight to Australia, although we may need to turn to another airline for assistance as part of our back up. These gumboots will be essential to the survivors of the Queensland floods during the days ahead and the massive clean up, the boots will offer some protection against contaminants and raw sewage as well as debris and snakes.

In approaching you, I ask you to remember that in all the muck and devastation that has hit our fellow Aussies up north, leaving them with only the clothes they stand in, and that the following items have been identified in consultation with Australian Defence Force personnel on the ground in Queensland.

Operation Angel is NOT looking for personal donations or money from individuals, but rather commercial donations of practical items as well as services.

1. personal insect repellent will afford them both protection and some small comfort as Queenslanders & their children begin the hard slog ahead during the clean up, it will make the horrendous time they are facing just a little more bearable.
2. Mosquito nets for sleeping
3. Mosquito coils
4. Underwear
5. Hygiene/toiletry kits
6. Trucking services
7. Children’s & Adult gumboots (Wellington boots in the UK and rainboots in USA)
8. New towels

Unfortunately, some very large companies in Australia have asked Operation Angel for payment for goods or rejected our requests – we hope that by sending out this news, other corporations will come forward with offers of practical assistance in the crucial days ahead.

Jacqueline Pascarl, Director of Operation Angel
+61 (0) 3 9580 4176