Rugby league icon and Get Ready Ambassador Johnathan Thurston has teamed up with Kenmore State High School students to kick off this year’s Get Ready Queensland Week. It comes as the Crisafulli Government continues to back Queenslanders as they enter another disaster season.
Kenmore State High School hosted key agencies as the state launched the 2025 campaign, including the Bureau of Meteorology and their latest severe weather outlook for Queensland.
To make it easier for Queenslanders to create a severe weather plan, an online tool is available at getready.qld.gov.au/plan that steps people through the process, pre-fills localised information, and provides advice, contacts and checklists.
State Member for Moggill, Dr Christian Rowan MP, said local residents knew firsthand just how important it was to be prepared for disaster season.
“Queenslanders know the need to be disaster prepared, especially in Moggill, and Kenmore State High School was the perfect spot for JT to launch this year’s Get Ready Week,” Dr Rowan said.
“From QPS to BOM and even the Red Cross, by hosting Queensland’s key disaster agencies in our own backyard, we’re able to promote the Get Ready message and potentially save homes, businesses and lives.”
“The Crisafulli Government is in it for the long haul, and continues to deliver historic disaster support for our communities in need.”
Queensland Reconstruction Authority CEO Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd) said while we couldn’t predict when extreme weather will strike, we can prepare for it.
“We want every Queenslander to share QRA’s vision of creating stronger, safer, more resilient communities,” Mr Ellwood said.
“Our 3 Steps to Get Ready – know your risk, make a plan, pack a kit – are key to us building greater resilience, and in particular this year we really want more people to formalise their disaster planning.
“A plan written down is a plan that stands up. For information, tips and resources on getting ready for disaster season, visit the Get Ready Queensland website, getready.qld.gov.au.”
Get Ready Queensland Ambassador Johnathan Thurston said like success on the footy field, staying safe during severe weather was the result of good planning.
“All good sports teams have a game plan, and all good households should have a plan to Get Ready for floods, cyclones, storms and bushfires,” Mr Thurston said.
“These are easy actions for every Queenslander to make sure they are best prepared for our state’s unpredictable weather.
“Just like the latest Get Ready Queensland campaign says, ‘Weather doesn’t plan, but you can’, and there is no better time to prepare than now.”
Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Laura Boekel said that between now and April severe weather could develop quickly and threaten lives and property.
“Severe weather can damage our homes, roads and neighbourhoods. It can also disrupt essential services and isolate communities. You can reduce the impact of severe weather by getting ready before it happens,” Ms Boekel said.
“This is the peak time for thunderstorms, tropical cyclones, flooding, heatwaves and bushfires. Records show at least one tropical cyclone makes landfall in Australia each season, and it only takes one to have serious impacts from heavy rainfall, damaging winds and storm surge.
“Flooding is always a risk, with riverine and coastal areas more likely to experience its impacts. Tropical cyclones, tropical lows and severe thunderstorms can bring heavy rainfall leading to localised and widespread flooding.”
Kenmore State High School Principal Paul Robertson said the school community’s lived experience spoke to the importance of disaster preparedness.
“We’ve seen firsthand the power of Mother Nature as the creeks around our school have swollen and taken out fences and sporting facilities in low-lying areas as the result of storms and flooding,” Mr Robertson said.
“It’s important to prepare, take precautions around our site, and all within our community to heed weather reports to ensure the safety of those not just at our school but in the path of what could potentially travel from our site, downstream.”
BACKGROUND
The Get Ready Queensland program is managed by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), the state’s lead agency for disaster recovery and resilience, and is strengthened by the support of major partner Suncorp.
Queenslanders can find out what they need to Get Ready for severe weather by visiting www.getready.qld.gov.au.
