I'm going to make this blog about the evacuation centre short and sweet. It's been and gone so the passion of my dislike for the situation has been extinguished. Time is a healer as they say!

The Stocklands Shopping Centre which served as our make shift cyclone proof home, was smaller than St Georges Shopping Centre back home in Preston. Crammed in to this space were approx 2,500 - 3,000 people. Originally there were supposed to be 2000. Along with these people came their worldly possessions as a large majority were backpackers or people who feared their tiny houses would not withstand the Cyclone.

It was highly unorganised with people not knowing how long we would be there for, the red cross charging around trying to meet eveyones demands. Children running, crying and screaming. The elderly and infirm looking more flustered and uncomfortable until we gave out airbeds and water.

We were there in for approx 30hours none of which were pleasant and although we saved on accomodation I would have rather payed top notch to stop at the hilton!

People were squashed together like sardines. The toilets were being used for make shift bathrooms and those who didnt choose to use these facilities absolutely stank. Not to mention the hostility from some Australians against us just because we took up space and were English.

All in all a rather unpleasant experience. However,I thank my lucky stars that the Cyclone changed course and didnt hit us head on. Our thoughts still go to those in Innisfail, Tully, Mission Beach and all the areas that truly were devastated by Cyclone Yasi.