All of us must be concerned at the suffering of those afflicted by the recent heavy rains which are flooding so much of our wide brown land.
And how awful it was to be so helpless when we saw, from the comfort of our living rooms, that destructive wall of water which came without warning and devastated the Queensland city of Toowoomba.
The Australian nation is united in joining in prayer and in attempting to alleviate, in many ways, the suffering of our fellow Australians.
There is a special place in all our hearts for those who have lost loved ones.
[Originally issued 11 January, 2011]