A friend in need is a friend indeed
Former Innisfail resident Angela Chronopoulou lost her home in Cyclone Larry. A client of Disability Services Queensland, she was supported by the department as well as other services and has now made a new home in Cairns.
Angela Chronopoulou and case manager Riette Voogt
"It was raining that day and the roof completely came off and I was in the house. The rain was falling in my kitchen, my back bedroom, front bedroom and the lounge room. I was screaming. I rang my mum. I rang DSQ. Then the phone went dead."
Angela Chronopolou, 37, was among a number of people with a disability whose world was forever changed by Cyclone Larry.
Fortunately, Angela was able to work with Disability Services Queensland staff, including her case manager and residential program officer Riette Voogt, to get her life back on track.
The first priority was housing. On the night of the cyclone, Angela stayed with friends but thereafter moved to the Red Cross evacuation centre. It was just a matter of days before Disability Services Queensland staff organised for Angela to relocate to Cairns.
"Angela was living in a hotel at first but she is very independent so within two days of her arriving in Cairns we found her a one-bedroom unit," Riette says.
"Disability Services Queensland staff helped with sourcing emergency funds and providing other forms of support."
"Since the cyclone we've seen a lot of goodwill and departments and agencies have worked well together to help our clients"
While Angela says she is scared about the prospect of another cyclone, she has made a fresh start in Cairns.
"I used to work at Endeavour in Innisfail but now I'm working for them in Cairns," she says proudly.
Angela adds that she is grateful for Riette's support and that of other Disability Services Queensland staff, the Red Cross and the Endeavour Foundation.
Riette says Angela has progressed in leaps and bounds since the cyclone.
"Angela has been amazing. She was very upset when it happened but who wouldn't be? She's been very grown-up about everything.
"Since the cyclone we've seen a lot of goodwill and departments and agencies have worked well together to help our clients.
"People worked so hard to make everything happen so quickly - and we would do it again."
Last updated November 2007