Help Simon Rebuild His Home

Hi there. As some of you may know, my boyfriend Simon has been studying and living alone in Brisbane. He lives in Oxley, a suburb in south-west Brisbane and one of the harder hit areas in Brisbane City by the QLD floods. Simon has lost his entire house, car, and all belongings to the rapidly rising floodwaters since Friday 25th Feb 2022. He has no way of transport as his car is currently submerged underwater in his garage. He has lost power to his house. He has had to rely on SES and the temporary kindness of complete strangers for evacuation and emergency accommodation, food and water.

Simon is currently staying in a stranger's granny flat and has been unable to go back and check on his house. He was forced to flee his house by wading through an exit hole dug by SES volunteers with nothing but the clothes on his back, a backpack of the absolute necessities and of course his two cats Aria and Misty who are his lifeline (although they are now traumatised by the travel and entrapment to protect them from escaping outside). Unfortunately, his insurance does not cover flood damage. Being a full time student, Simon also does not have any income aside from his Centrelink Austudy payment to afford his minimal living expenses. Did I mention he also has an exam in 2 weeks to study for on top of all this stress? I am beyond grateful that my boyfriend and his two cats are alive and safe for now. However, my heart breaks that I am so far away from him and I feel helpless that I am unable to physically be there and help him with the clean up.

Based on estimates by other locals who lived through the 2011 floods, the cost of clean up and recovery of assets is about $30k-$40k. I am not asking for this amount, but from the bottom of my heart, please donate whatever small amount you can afford to help with the enormity of the situation he is facing right now. While only time can heal the sheer trauma he has experienced in the last 24-48 hours, I'm hoping we can all help do what little we can to make this a less daunting experience for him.

Any amount (even 50c) is better than nothing. If you are not in a position to donate, please share this fundraiser to reach other people! If you are not willing to do so, please share some words of encouragement or support for Simon, who is currently physically isolated from his loved ones (including myself). Every little bit counts.

Thank you, thank you, thank you a million times.