I think it is fair to say that 2011 has started with one disaster after another.

Our own floods here in Australia, drenching Queensland, Northern New South Wales and parts of Victoria are well documented.

The loss of life in the Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley and Grantham townships was a tragedy, and it clearly impacted on anyone that knows the area and has family, relatives or friends living there.

The Brisbane City floods also impacted on many lives. It is a bustling thriving centre, more so than the last major flood in 1974, and thousands were, and I dare say still are, affected either at home or at work.

This month, over 95% of Queensland has been declared a disaster area.

Anyone who has been watching the weather would know that our northern cousins are still experiencing flooding, some areas for the 3^rd or 4^th time since the start of the year.

Then of course we have the Christchurch disaster that, in many ways, eclipsed our own. Visitors to New Zealand's south island would know the area. They'd understand that tourism is a major drawcard for the town, they'd also know that its architecture was a point of interest for many. In what was a minute or two of violent rumbling, the landscape has changed forever. Aside from the loss of their various monuments, their historic churches, the tragedy that was the loss of life affected us all.

It seems that everyone knows someone from New Zealand, whether it is a friend or work colleague, and it also seems that everyone knows a 'kiwi' that knows someone in Christchurch.

I know several sign colleagues that I've finally managed to contact, and the stories they tell are nothing short of terrifying. All are safe, but their lives have been impacted forever. Loss of income through the displacement of their workplace is a problem, and that is directly impacting on their wellbeing. Loss of business due to the calamity will see many of our sign colleagues close up shop or amalgamate. I dare say some will emigrate to Australia too.

Continue reading here