Maryborough flood stories told in new podcast

Heart-wrenching stories of resilience, loss, heroism, and selfless acts from the 2022 Maryborough floods will be shared in a compelling new podcast series launching today.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said Council was releasing its first-ever podcast series called “What’s Your Story”, featuring eleven episodes that dive into the experiences of locals who were heavily affected by the devastating floods.

“Everyone was impacted in some way, and these powerful podcasts give raw insight into what it was really like – from the heartbreak and chaos to the strength and recovery of our community,” he said.

“Maryborough was hit hard by major flooding in early 2022, caused by intense rainfall from ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth and later a separate severe weather event in February.

“The Mary River peaked twice within a month – first in January, reaching around 10 metres, and then again in late February, peaking at 10.3 metres giving the region the worst floods they had seen in over a decade.”

Cr Seymour said each episode runs for 20 – 40 minutes and shares deeply personal perspectives, highlighting the impact of the floods and the resilience of those affected.

“Interviewees include local residents, Red Cross volunteers, business owners, a conservationist, and Council staff who worked on the frontline,” he said.

“My story features in Episode seven where I reflect on my own experience during the disaster and my role in keeping the community informed with vital updates such as road closures and safety information.

“It was an incredibly challenging time. As we’ve seen again with the recent Hervey Bay flooding, Council is committed to keeping our community safe and informed in times of disaster.

“Episode four features long-time Maryborough local Don Schmidt, who has lived in the region since 1955 and shares his memories of both the 1950s flood and the 2022 disaster.

“These reflections are incredibly valuable – they not only help us learn from the disaster to better prepare for the future, but they also honour the strength of our community, and we sincerely thank everyone who generously shared their stories.”

The podcast series will be available from today (Monday, March 31) on Spotify. Extended versions of each episode can also be viewed on iPads at The Story Bank in Maryborough.

Council plans to grow its Bank of Stories by releasing a new limited-series podcast each year, with future seasons exploring specific themes and communities such as LGBTQIA+ voices, young children, and more.

This podcast project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Tune in to inspiring local voices on What’s Your Story?, available now on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/51WSnqu7Lt1pU1VKRaUdrS

For more information, visit: https://storybank.ourfrasercoast.com.au/