IT was two weeks before the Chaplain family were able to access their flood stricken Maxwelton property and truly understand the impact of what the disaster would mean for their cattle operation.
But with the determination and grit of all those impacted, Robert and Ruth Chaplain got on with the job of refencing their property, so when the grass grew, they could start to restock.
Mrs Chaplain was mother to Sidney, 5 and Mary 3, and 38 weeks pregnant with baby Walter when the February monsoon struck.
Mr Chaplain was away for work and it was two weeks before they could get a chopper up to assess their losses.
They were among the first primary producers to access Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants, with more than $90m paid out in the six months since the disaster.
The couple used the money to dispose of dead livestock and start the long road to recovery.
Mr Chaplain said there was nothing they could have done to reduce the impact which caused them to lose a large percentage of their herd due to the bitter cold and exposure.
"It wasn't the flooding that impacted them, but the exposure. They weren't in water, they were in mud and sludge in the cold winds. They couldn't move or get dry," he said.
"When I took the chopper ride down and we had a lost such a large percentage of our herd, our minds went into what can we do to get back onto our feet.
"Before the event, we were about to start selling down. We had made the decision to put cattle on the market because of the shortage on feed.
"When the rain started we thought this is awesome, you beauty, we were right to go. We could not have prepared. This was unprecedented, there was nothing we could do better."
Mr Chaplain said they started fencing as soon as they could access the property ready for restocking
"We knew we had the rain and the grass was going to come so we knew we had to get the fences up. The government were still coming up with plans through that time so we focused on what we could do."
The Chaplains contacted QRIDA for support, having previously accessed a First Start Loan to buy cattle. Mr Chaplain said it was hard to predict when their business would fully recover, with changing markets and the loss of their progeny.
"There has been some grass, and the cattle that are alive are doing well so far," Mrs Chaplain said.
"There has been a heap of community support, government support and it's ongoing, it's not disappeared.
"It's nice to get back to mustering and back to business. That's what agriculture is about."
