Commendations for Allora flood effort

The “Best Little Town on the Downs” has been recognised by Ergon Energy’s Tidy Towns Awards for the way its community worked together during recovery from this year’s devastating floods.
Southern Downs Regional Mayor Ron Bellingham, who was at the Tidy Towns Awards ceremony last month, presented the community of Allora with a Tidy Towns Certificate of Recognition last week.
Cr Bellingham said he was “up and down” all night at the awards ceremony, with Allora receiving a special mention in all but one of the Tidy Towns categories.
“This little town has really shown heart and the Tidy Town judges certainly recognised that on the night,” he said.
Allora Show Society president Shirley Cornhill summed up the Allora community’s feelings about the recognition in her typically succinct fashion.
“We’re stoked!” Mrs Cornhill said as she accepted the certificate, along with Ted Cowley, Wendy Ardrey and Glyn Rees on behalf of the community.
“This is a credit to the whole community and also all those people from outside Allora who came and helped us,” she said.
Tales were told of how people with children were trapped in town and locals descended on the community hall with mattresses, blankets, food and other necessities without so much as blinking of an eye.
Similar selflessness was shown, with people jumping in to repair the damaged Allora Show Society fencing, which was repaired within a week.
“People from Allora and also all over came to help,” Mrs Cornhill said.