© irene waters 2015
At the beginning of May 2015 we had an east coast low hit Queensland to the mid-north coast of NSW. This severe event saw gale force winds, high seas and caused a massive amount of destruction and death as rain fell at around 100 mm per hour in some areas. The last time this type of weather event occurred was in 2007 in June. The storms that hit Newcastle and the mid-north coast caused flash flooding and blew the Pasher Bulker, a 40,000 ton bulk coal carrier, aground at Nobby’s Beach in the heart of Newcastle City.
© irene waters 2015
Where I lived at the time on the Mid-north coast we experienced the rain leading to severe flooding. 
© irene waters 2015
© irene waters 2015
It is amazing to me how in one week we all seem to have similar thoughts for prompts and posts. I’d posted on Thursday Yasur volcano and the reasons it made those that see it release their adrenaline in bulk loads. Go here to see these volcanic forces of nature
This post has been created for the weekly photo challenge and more can be seen here
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Ironically, this evening we had a huge storm, an exhibition of the forces of nature. 🙂
janet
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Janet we may have seen that storm on the news in Australia. They were certainly showing storm damage somewhere in the States. Hope all was well with you. 🙂 Cheers Irene
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I doubt that was ours, Irene. Fortunately, it wasn’t really news-worthy. But there have been some bad ones elsewhere recently.
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I’m glad it wasn’t yours as it looked as though the place photographed was destroyed. Happy Mothers Day Janet. 🙂
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oh wow that tanker grounded like that, That’s nature’s force alright :O
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Absolutely. Getting it refloated was a feat of man but I guess that is nature also. 🙂
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That it is for sure 🙂
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The photo of that tanker is very impressive. Having lived though many hurricanes, I can really empathize with everyone effected by the storm.
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Yes you get your share of bad weather and if you’re like me I never cease to be amazed at the force that is spent.
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Please send us some of that rain! We need it in California.
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I’ve heard you are in drought. I hope you get some wet stuff soon.
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Actually, we got a little this week and may get a bit more. We need a steady drip over an extended period. Unlikely, unfortunately.
The photo of the coal carrier – like an alien invasion on the beach. Something where it doesn’t belong.
You with your camera – where you always belong!
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Glad you got a bit and hopefully even though not expected it will come.
Yes you can rely on me to see what I can when I’m in a place and the camera is always with me.
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Interesting photos Irene. Our dog refuses to walk if it is wet!!
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Ours are such creatures of habits they start demanding if we don’t look like moving, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Rain, hail or shine. Luckily we get mostly shine.
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Amazing photos, captured beautifully clever girl…Have a wonderful weekend…
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You too Jan. Have a great Mothers Day.
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I liked that shot of ship. Its so huge with waves crashing at it. It really captures the force of nature very well 🙂
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Thanks Suyash. And that was taken after the weather had calmed down. Huge forces.:)
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Wow 😉
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Great photos. We saw this on TV.
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Yes I think the entire world was watching. I was sent to Newcastle with the Red Cross Disaster Team and was lucky to see it first hand but after the real force of the weather.
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When nature starts flexing her muscles, it can be frightening. The first photo of the waves crashing against the boat is an excellent show of force.
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Thnaks Joanne. I agree and I would have loved to have seen it when the storm was actually raging as that force must have been magnified by a large amount. (Mind you I would probably have been cowering in the bathroom and wouldn’t have seen a thing.)
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Wow…some storm you had there Irene, you weren’t kidding! We had gale force winds too last week as you know, but it’s a good job we didn’t catch the ferry to The Channel Islands until Thursday as by then the worse had blown over but the ferry had been cancelled for 2 days. As it was, going there was very choppy indeed with more than a few rather seasick, but we were okay… just 😉 Love your photos, the first one is amazing. Hope things are calmer now for you my friend 🙂 ❤
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We are back to glorious blue days. Your choppy trip reminds me of a trip I did to Green Island from Cairns. There were a group of nuns who were struggling to keep both their fear and their stomachs under control and the seaman said to them “Sisters, I thought of all people you would have faith.” It cracked me up.
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Haha…that is really funny 😀
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Frighteningly beautiful, though deadly and dangerous. We can only watch and pretend to have some measure of control over these powerful forces of nature.
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Pretend is the right word. We are powerless against them.
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