Petition Tag - innisfail

Described by Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga as "built for Origin", Nate Myles has been stalwart for the Queensland team for the past seven series.

He enjoyed a stellar series in 2012, being named best-on-ground in Game One in Melbourne.

And following his 20th game Queensland in the 2012 Decider at Lang Park (topping the hit-up count with 18 for 132 metres and making 29 tackles), he was named player-of-the-series winning the Wally Lewis Medal.

I recognise that Nate had a rough patch a few years ago but has he has since changed clubs to be a leader at the Gold Coast Titans where he's let his football do the talking and done us all proud. He has matured enormously as a person and a player and is a real role model for rugby league players and young people in general in Gordonvale.

Innisfail has a sign honouring its State of Origin heroes Billy Slater and Ty Williams and it's about time we get one for Gordonvale too.

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Many Central Queensland towns have been declared disaster zones due to the extensive rain that has resulted in flooding in the regions.

By now, we, the national and the international community are aware of the devastation in areas such as Innisfail, Bundaberg, Dalby, Emerald, Rockhampton, St George, The Lockyer Valley, inclusive of Grantham, Toowoomba, Ipswich and Brisbane CBD and its associated low lying suburbs. Not since the floods of 1974 and the devastation of life, limb and infrastructure have we witnessed such an event of this magnitude, that there is concern that current funds may not completely cover the damage. Further, and more recently, parts of NSW and Victoria have experienced many losses and require adequate funds so that they too may rebuild their lives and assets.

We are aware that full disaster clean up operations are being commenced to assist the towns, cities and States in crisis, however, there are expectations that any future rises in flood waters will create a new wave of misery and destruction unless the said regions are not adequately floodproofed.

We are also aware that the government is positioning various emergency services to commence salvage operations and provide food, health and some financial assistance to those that have lost homes and businesses. These floods have not only resulted in lives being lost, but millions of dollars per day are currently being lost in ongoing property damage claims. Unfortunately however, thousands of insured flood victims will not be eligible for payouts because their policies make a distinction between rainwater and flood damage.

Many others will face long delays in having claims assessed because experts will need to be called in to decide how the damage occurred.

Further, many who have either underinsured their properties or not insured at all are facing homelessness as well.

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