White Pages Covers Program

Grantham flood heroes honoured on Beaudesert White Pages® cover

March 22, 2012

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A group of Grantham flood heroes are set to become familiar faces in the region, after being selected to appear on the cover of this year’s Beaudesert White Pages® and Yellow Pages®.

This year’s Covers Program theme, A Helping Hand, The Aussie Way, recognises the group of nine residents who banded together to save lives and rebuild the community when floods hit Grantham on 10 January 2011.

Representing the close knit and resolute town of Grantham are residents:

Marty Warburton, chair of the Grantham reconstruction committee.

Janelle Warburton, tireless community volunteer.

Raymond Van Dijk, rescued 23 people on his kayak.

Jim Wilkin, rescued 16 people with brother Rob in their boat.

Vincent Bloom, rescued countless children on the Grantham railway bridge.

Linda Van Zelst and Marieanne Purton, co-founders of a free supermarket that opened in Grantham after the floods.

Geoffrey Purton, rescued residents and liaised with emergency services.

Malcolm Dionysius, brought residents to safety and volunteered countless hours to feed and support displaced locals.

Chair of the Grantham reconstruction committee, Marty Warburton, said those recognised were just a few of the countless locals who stepped up during the disaster, and afterwards in the ongoing recovery.

“The people of Grantham are an amazing bunch and to be recognised in this way is such a boost. We’ve been through some tough times, but this is a big positive for us to focus on. I hope everyone in Grantham is proud of the people selected for the cover and the recognition of our town as a whole,” he said.

“Most importantly, I’d like to take this chance to really thank all of the ordinary Aussies who stepped up and helped us out after the flood. In the first six months, I had 7500 people contact me wanting to help.

“I am thankful for being able to witness the generosity and help Australia offered after January 10 2011. It will stick with me until the day I die.”