Then and Now - Mossman a year after Jasper

Cyclone Jasper Anniversary

Bryan Littlely

Journalist

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Pia and Peter McKeown, with granddaughter Georgie Zboril, outside their Temptations Cafe this week. Picture: Bryan Littlely
Flooding in Front Street, Mossman, outside of Temptations. Picture: Courtesy Douglas Shire Council display

Baby Georgie Zboril is not too sure what all the fuss is about but is happy to be in a photograph with her grandparents Pia and Peter McKeown outside their Temptations Cafe in Front Street, Mossman.

Little Georgie has just three months of life experience, enough to bring a lot of joy to her family in the last part of a year from hell, but not enough to know the beast that delivered that hell for them, their neighbours, business owners and the broader Mossman and Douglas community on December 13, 2023… Cyclone Jasper.

She will, though, in time be able to look at the stacks of images family and friends took of the floods which followed Jasper and hear the story of how the town she calls home was changed forever.

On the anniversary of Cyclone Jasper striking our region, we’ve taken a ‘then and now’  look at images provided by residents for the Douglas Shire Council’s display of events in the days of devastation.

Staff at Casa Mia start the clean-up process a year ago. Picture: Courtesy Douglas Shire Council collection

Double hit for Pia and Peter

Tahlea Taylor at Casa Mia in Mossman this week. Picture: Bryan Littlely

“The cyclone wasn’t a problem but it was that rain and aftermath,’’ Pia McKeown said outside Temptations, one of two business she owns in Front Street, Mossman, impacted by the floods.

“We had never seen water in our businesses before.’’

Husband Peter said his mother-in-law has lived all her life in Mossman and had never seen flooding come from the southern end of the town.

“It was just disgusting,’’ Pia said of the aftermath and clean-up of shops and businesses through the township.

“Everyone has done it tough for 12 months. People are just starting to get their insurance sorted now in some cases.

“Business are still closed or have relocated and shops shut up. It has been exhausting and really draining.’’

The McKeown’s other business, fashion outlet Casa Mia, also took the impact of the floodwaters.

Casa Mia shop assistant Tahlea Taylor says she was unable to help with the clean up and and is not in the photograph pictured here as she was cut off in Julatten by the floodwaters.

The toilet block near Foxton Bridge during the floods. Picture: Douglas Shire Council collection

Ancestors ‘gave creek a clean’

Kuku-Yalanji man Gavin Creek says the Mossman River flooding following Cyclone Jasper must have been “the old people thinking it was time it had a good flush out’’.

“Our ancestors are always looking after us and this land, night and day,’’ he said when we caught up with him at the park near Foxton Bridge, Mossman River North.

“Back in the days, the water wouldn’t have come that far up.”

Images from the floods show the mural covered amenities block in the park almost completely submerged. Eighteen people were rescued in the Mossman River flooding.

Gavin Creek and Wally Reid in the park near Foxton Bridge this week. Picture: Bryan Littlely
Tanya Bown casts a ghostly figure in the window of Mossman's NewsExtra on the Sunday during widespread flooding. Picture: Pia McKeown

The ‘ghost’ in the news agency

Armed with a torch, Tanya Bown, stood in the News Extra shop window on the Sunday afternoon waving to Pia McKeown to show that she was there.

In the aftermath of the frightening day, the photographer thought the grainy figure in the photograph was a ghost.

Tanya said while she was very much real, and safe at the moment the picture was taken, it was a surreal experience.

“The whole thing was quite frightening,’’ Tanya said.

“I was ok and safe but when emergency services came they said I absolutely had to leave and I was very grateful of their advice and help.

“I had that Sunday night at the Woolies car park as a lot of people did.’’

Tanya Bown continues to work hard keeping the community up with the news and more at Mossman News Extra. Picture: Bryan Littlely

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