Can Savage Garden reform for Sound Relief 2?

The clean up after Queensland's floods will take years. And don't forget Victoria's floods. There has been such amazing support from Australians - on Saturday, an army of volunteers came together to begin the enormous clean up in Queensland. Strangers are helping each other salvage what's left of their houses and possessions.

The purpose of social networking sites is becoming apparent - they are mobilising people - enabling people to both offer and call for assistance. We are seeing pictures and stories first hand from people affected. Brisbane radio presenter Meshel Laurie is doing a great job on Twitter, spreading messages about flood warnings, and highlighting where volunteers and assistance is needed. Help Your Mates is an online message board set up for flood victims to post what they need, and for good samaritans to post what they can give. A Facebook page has been created to reunite people and their pets. My own workplace is supporting affected staff and clients, and raising money for the community. It's quite remarkable to see. It makes me really proud to be an Australian.

One fundraising event in the pipeline is Sound Relief 2. In a similar vein to Sound Relief in 2009 which raised money for the Black Saturday bushfires and QLD floods, bands will come together to play a concert to support Australians affected by the natural disasters. Promoters Michael Gudinski and Michael Chugg are in the planning stages of the Sound Relief 2 concert. There's been talk of a date being penciled in for March, when Eddie Vedder, Usher and Kings of Leon will be in Australia. Brisbane bands, Powderfinger and Savage Garden have also been pressured to reform for the concert.

Powderfinger: Recently retired Aussie rockers. Savage Garden: mid 90s - early 00s pop duo with hits including Truly Madly Deeply and To the Moon and Back.

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I've seen a few news articles and snippets about Savage Garden being on the Sound Relief 2 wishlist. And my excitement levels have increased 100 million times at the thought of their reformation! I don't want to trivialise the natural disaster situations in Australia. But this is something I've longed for since they broke up in 2001.

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I really think Savage Garden should reform (and not just because they are my favourite band ever!) to support Australians suffering after the floods. Both Brisbane boys, the reuniting of Darren Hayes and Daniel Jones could raise some serious money and awareness for the cause.

Music mobilises people to come together to support a charity or a cause. And charity or causes often mobilises bands. Australian icons Midnight Oil, Hunters and Collectors and Split Enz reformed for the 2009 Sound Relief concert. I was there to see them - these were bands I thought I'd never see in my lifetime. The concert was both a privilege and a great cause. It raised over $7 million for bushfire and flood survivors.

Darren has already encouraged his fans to donate to the QLD Premier's flood appeal if they can afford to. He does a lot to support causes, particularly in the gay community, most recently the It Gets Better initiative. I am even sure he'd do a solo performance to help out the flood relief appeal.

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I understand the cost of them traveling to Australia for a one off concert would be huge. Maybe they could do a video link up or something, to save on costs?

I don't want to pressure Darren and Daniel into anything. (Ok, I do, just a little.) In the past, both Darren and Daniel have said there is no chance of a reformation. This was in a 2007 newspaper article about Darren Hayes:

Just don't reminisce about his old muso mate, Daniel Jones.

When asked whether the pair might ever consider a Spice Girls-style reunion the response was abrupt.

"No, never," he says curtly. "I once said I'd only do it if it cured cancer. And that's still how I feel."

Darren Hayes, tweeted on Saturday: "I just know that something good is gonna happen."

Could this be a sign? I hope so.

Could the Queensland floods be the thing that reunites Savage Garden? It would be appropriate and timely for them to reform. Even if it's for one concert only. Queensland is their home state. Savage Garden were an internationally successful act - they have many fans across the world. If they did reform, international fans may come to Australia to see them live. This will not only raise money for the flood relief appeal, but boost Australia's economy through tourism.

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Darren Hayes has a visible and interactive online presence. Daniel Jones not so much. So, Darren, if you read this, please consider reforming Savage Garden for Sound Relief 2. A concert won't solve everything. But it will raise some much needed funds to help the people of Queensland (and other flood affected states) rebuild their lives. And I'm sure you and Daniel Jones want to reunite be a part of that. Thank you.

To my blog readers - can you please spread the word about this blog entry? Thank you :)

A thank you, some outfits and the floods.

A huge thank you to Sydney Shop Girl for a lovely gift! I now have a post box and so I don't access my mail each day. I picked up a parcel at 7.00 am yesterday morning and lookie! A package...

Nicely wrapped present and card...

And a lovely card and jewellery holder.

Sydney Shop Girl also has one of these. I can see it coming in useful for The Great Declutter of 2011 (so far two bags of clothes have been packed for the op shop!). I can't wait to organise my bigger jewellery in here and hang it up. Thank you SSG!

I got up early yesterday and found I had so much time to do stuff. I showered, ironed, dressed, dashed to post office, came back and made a salad, made a smoothie and checked Facebook and emails. All this by 8.10 am!

My salad was so yummy. It had lettuce, cherry tomato, nectarine, red capsicum, mushroom and feta, and when I got to work I added dressing.

I ate my salad with this, a pork pie. One of the great foods of my English heritage.

Here is my smoothie. Half a punnet of raspberries, a nectarine, a banana, yoghurt, oats and milk. So yummy.

This review was published on DiVine yesterday. It is a rework of my blog piece.

This is what I wore to work on Tuesday. It's good that there's no strict corporate dress code at my work as this outfit suited me perfectly on Tuesday - warm outside, cool inside and sore skin.

Dress from some cheap shop in Swanston Street ($30!), top from Sussan, cardi from Cotton On, necklace from Hobart, shoes are what I wore to my year 10 formal in 1997 (they've survived so many years, including a run through the washing machine!), Witchery headband and belt from Big W ('bullshit!' said a friend!).

This is what I wore yesterday. Still sore. Sore skin on my legs. Sore tummy (not skin).

I wore the blazer from the first suit I bought when I first moved to Melbourne in 2003 (the declutter is working - I am finding clothing gems from moons ago) - it is from Portmans. Also wearing dress by DeCjuba (another declutter find - bought for a wedding in 2008 - it's one of those dresses I've relegated to 'best', so only worn twice. I decided to wear it to work. I love the sleeves.) Also wearing shoes by Diana Ferrari, headband from Mimco, bangle from Diva and necklace from Etsy.

The floods continue to devastate Queensland and northern NSW. It's just so sad. I can't help but cry. The floods are so far away from Melbourne but the news coverage hits hard.

Last night it was reported that 20,000 homes were under water in Brisbane. A restaurant, named Drift, set adrift down the river. Boats and household items are floating down rivers and out to sea. Animals swimming through floods trying to reach dry ground only to find a roof which was inaccessible. A dozen dead. I have been to Brisbane once - for 24 hours to see a Darren Hayes concert. The arts precinct of Southbank where I stayed is awash. There are disease risks. Water risks. Such a horrible, uncontrollable event.

This was the front page of a number of state newspapers yesterday:

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Beautiful baby Montana, evacuated by the defence force. I hope her family are ok. The emergency services are doing an amazing job. As are ordinary people. A few friends of mine volunteered to help out communities by sandbagging and clearing homes and sporting clubs.

This video is inspirational.

The enormity of it is incomprehensible.

You can donate to the QLD Premier's flood appeal here.

Queensland floods continued

The footage of the Queensland floods is heartbreaking. Maybe it's because the news is more immediate now. People are filming and tweeting their experiences. We're seeing the disaster unfold.

It's the worst flood in a century.

75 percent of Queensland has been declared a disaster zone.

Nine people have been confirmed dead. Dozens are missing.

The army is now flying supplies to disaster zones.

Yesterday Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley were obliterated by the floods. Today that water has made its way to Brisbane. The worst days are set to be tomorrow and Thursday.

Brisbane airport has closed tonight.

People are in panic mode stocking up on groceries. I've read a tweet that ATMs are out of money.

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And crocodiles are looking for food.

Even if we're fortunate enough not to physically experience them, these floods will affect so many facets of our lives for months to come, maybe years. The economy. Food prices. Fuel prices. Tourism. The workforce. Everything. Today also made me consider how important it is to shop locally to stimulate the Australian economy, and also to maintain the GST so the government can continue supporting the community.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said:

"We are facing one of our toughest ever tests,"
"We will only pass this test if we are calm, if we are patient with each other ... and if we listen carefully to the instructions we are being given.
"Now is not a time for panic, now is the time for us to stick together."

The floods are two states away from where I live in Victoria. Australia is a huge country and at times it feels like we are oblivious to what's happening in another state. But in times of disaster and tragedy, Australians band together. I saw Kinglake, the town destroyed by the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, is rallying together to assist the people of Queensland. They want to repay Queensland for their support in 2009. There's also this man saving roos in a boat in NSW last year.

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People are big hearted. Australia united makes me proud.

My thoughts are with the people of Queensland - friends, colleagues and strangers. Faux Fuschia, Rick Morton, Nikki Hassett and Bern Morley are bloggers I love that live in Queensland. I send my love to you all. Stay safe.

You can donate to the QLD Premier's flood appeal here.

Edit: this is a useful blog entry about what to do in an emergency. And this is a Facebook page about pet rescue.

Queensland floods

Another Australian summer, another devastating natural disaster. Mother nature is so destructive.

The Australian state Queensland is under water, with floods destroying homes, livestock and land.

There are reports of houses and cars floating away, and unknown lives lost. People have lost everything. People are missing. There is little communication from the affected areas. And there doesn't seem to be any respite. The state has been flooded since late December. Premier Anna Bligh said last night that 'the situation in Queensland is grim and desperate'

The news footage is heartbreaking, and certainly puts my life into perspective. I watched some horrific scenes on the news last night.

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ABC news.

This on Channel 7 news.

If you are in Queensland, stay safe. If you know an elderly or disabled person affected by the floods and can help them to safety, please do so.

You can donate to the QLD Premier's flood appeal here.

For updates, visit qld.gov.au.