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Forum Index : Off topic archive. : Time to move south I think.
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Well I've just about had it with this weather. I live in the north eastern part of Australia, little place called Mackay, on the coast. About 500km north of me is the biggest meanest cat 5 super cyclone we have seen in out recorded history. Its heading west south west toward a beautiful city called Cairns. We will feel some strong winds here, so I've taken precautions again, checked my insurance, taped up the windows, moved the Monaro to high ground, etc. On Sunday night just gone, a cat 2 cyclone hit Bowen, and 150km north of here, I felt that one, and some roofs were lost in my area. We had a cat 3 pass closer last March. Year before that a cat 5 passed down the coast 200km to my east. This year the ocean is the hottest its even been, which is why we are getting these storms. And we are only half way through the cyclone season. I have a close friend in Cairns, and I'm so worried about her I almost vomited this morning. Its going to be a long day. I'm thinking about moving south. I have family in Toowoomba south east Queensland Australia, and in Tasmania, way south Australia. Up here in Mackay I have my job and friends, and 6 months of the year its a beautiful place to live. But for a few months of the year its like playing Russian roulette with these cyclones, its only a matter of time before a big one hits Mackay. Its happened in the past, and will happen again. You see these cyclones pop up on the weather service, and its like some evil monster looking for its prey. If it heads your way and its a big one, it will wipe out your home, community and economy, and could take your life. Toowoomba is a nice place, its a large city, and the climate is nice most of the year, but it can get a bit cold. I have family, so it will be easier to get established. And I've sold my place up here, so I have the funds to make the move. Thinking about it very seriously. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru  Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Glenn I understand how you feel as living with the threat of cyclones every year is a real strain. Toowoomba is a nice city and I am sure you will fit in and make more friends down here. It is a bit cold and foggy in the winter but nice and high away from tidal surges. I think that a lot of people from north Queensland coastal towns will be thinking much the same, as the high temperature in the sea looks set to continue. I personally would be looking at going south to Gladstone area as a good compromise, and being inland a bit. Just a suggestion. All the best for your move? Bob Foolin Around |
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AMACK Senior Member  Joined: 31/05/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 184 |
Glenn, Move to the high country Victoria. It may be a bit cold in winter but we do not get floods and we do not get cyclones. If we do get a flood here I would not like to be out on the flats as we are 580-600 mt above sea level. P.S Did I mention we get very good winds too. AMACK *Note to self 1. Make it thick 2.Make it heavy. 3.Make it stronger than it should be. 4. Don't rush the first job as the second job will cost more and take mor |
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| Barry T Coles Senior Member Joined: 30/07/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 109 |
Hi Glenn I understand your feelings, I live in Karratha in the North West of WA almost directly opposite you & the constant threat every year of Cyclones is there. The annual clean up & put away becomes a real bug bear when for around 6 months of the year my little 4 metre square shed is packed to the roof with equipment & part finished projects that you simply cant work on because its too much trouble unpacking everything just to find out there’s another TC heading your way. I’ve been up here for 30 years now but have a 5 acre property just north of Perth where we are going to start building this year & were looking forward to moving my gear into a shed of decent size 20 X 10 metre & then we get this storm. Storm This one started near Mt Newman a mining town about 150 km SE of Karratha & ended up 1500 km south near where our property is, it ripped through towns on its way south & did a lot of damage, one things for sure when I build that house & shed they will be cyclone rated. OK whinge over Stay safe Cheers Barry I need to learn from the mistakes of others. I dont have the time to make them all myself. |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
This kind of puts it in perspective... http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/how-cyclone -yasi-compares-around-the-world/story-fn7ik2te-1225998762870 The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Glenn Find your self a safe spot and a bottle of scotch and hang in there. It looks like the worst of it will go to the north of you, but be safe. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Thanks guys. It's made land fall, so things should start to calm down over the next few hours. I've been down the beach a couple of times to check there isn't any significant storm surge here, they say it can happen up to 3 hours after the high tide, couple of hours ago. I'm afraid I think there will be many lives lost, the news over the next few days will show the extent of the damage. Its such a beautiful part of the country too. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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Greenbelt Guru Joined: 11/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 566 |
Hi Glen; Thinking about You and the tragedy faced by so many of your Neighbors to the North. On the Storm chart it Looks like Mackay has been spared, Lucked out again, Time to move before it gets You. Regards---Roe Time has proven that I am blind to the Obvious, some of the above may be True? |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Glenn Glad you are alive and well. Bob Foolin Around |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
The poor Ropatec windmill in Townsville didn't survive. Its the one I wrote about here. Before shot.... 
After shot.... 
Source. Hopefully it can be repaired or replaced. I would always visit the ropatec when I was in Townsville. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi glen Looks like it was a bit light on footings for a cyclone area. Bob Foolin Around |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
These Ropatecs are supposed to be self govening, wont speed out of control even if unloaded, bit like a Savonius. Looking at it, the blades must have come off before it fell over. One blade is still there, meaning it would have been shaking itself to pieces. Maybe thats what broke the anchor bolts. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi glen That amount of imbalance would do the trick, not meant for those conditions, it could have been impacted by something flying around such as a coconut, or other bit of debris. It does look like it is repairable but what the council will do is a mystery. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Air Bender Senior Member Joined: 25/01/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 206 |
Hi glen I woudnt be planing to move to far south. If the weather continues to follow the trends of the norther hemisphere the south will be in for a very cold winter. it might be an idear to move about half way down and far to the west. All the best Dean |
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| domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873 |
Glenn, Sorry to hear you sold your place and are going thru the trauma of leaving a place you got used to. The oceans are warming more and more and the weather events are going to be more violent. In the SW of WA our rainfall has dropped from 1,100 mm to 800 mm in 15 years and 800 mm on average is just what the blue gums in the plantation need as a minimum. If Dr Tim Flannery and others are to be believed, then if the Gulf Stream collapses after the Greenland ice sheet has gone, Europe can look forward to scandinavian refugees fleeing south from a new ice age. Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up. Winston Churchill |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Yeah I do worry about the warming ocean. It might just be a phase, but it also might not be 
There are a bunch of reasons why I'm moving, the recent cyclone was just the last straw. I'm now looking forward to the move. I've signed a lease on a house in Toowoomba for the next six months, so that will give me time to look around for a place to buy. Next week the removalists will be here to move most of my gear, and then I'll be sleeping on the floor for a couple of weeks while I get the rest of my gear moved and finish up my job. Busy busy busy 
I do look forward to meeting up with the local forum members down that way, we have a few members in the Toowoomba region 
Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi glenn I look forward to meeting up with you. Hope all goes well with your shift. Bob Foolin Around |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
I've signed a lease on a house in Toowoomba for the next 6 months. Nice place, with a shed  I havn't see it myself yet, but my Dad has checked it out for me.
The furniture has gone and arived at the new place already, so I'm living on the bare basics here. Matress on the floor, little portable TV, bar fridge and a couple of chairs. There's a real echo in here! The old Monaro left on Tuesday too, on the back of a car carrier. It hasn't arived yet, fingers crossed it gets there OK. I still have a lot of stuff to sort out and pack up, all my tools and spare parts. A lot of it will go to the dump or charity. The plan is later next week I'll hire a truck to take the rest to Towoomba, leaving only my car and loaded trailer to go. I'll miss this place, living on the beach, but at the moment I just want to get going. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Glenn Sounds like it is all working out for you, its a shame that you have to loose some of the treasures but at times t is good to shed some things to get more working space, I think I will have to move as I can hardly find the floor in my shed. I hope you insured the Monaro as they are getting as rare as hens teeth. You will get used to the lack of beach as that is a state of mind unless you are a surfer, and its only a couple of hours to the sea if you must get sand in your socks. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
Yeah I agree, living near the beach is very over rated. Its nice for a few weeks, but spend a year living on the beach front and you soon learn there are some big downsides. Everything rusts, very quickly, and I've had a lot of circuit boards die. The salt air and high humidity has taken its toll on a lot of my gear, especially the older stuff that I value, like valve radios, old computers, etc. And for a few months of the year during spawing season it smells there is a dead whale on the beach, the worst smell, like a cross between rotting fish and raw sewage, it gets into everything, you can hide from it, yuk! If these things dont matter to you, and your high enough to not have to worry about storm surge, then the beach is OK, but not for me. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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