Steam rises off the ground in the 40 degree heat and 84-year-old Raymond Horsburgh is lying back on his camp bed, trying to stay cool. Ray's bed is set up in the middle of a huge hall at the Dalby showgrounds.
The hall slept more than 300 people the first night the whole town of St George evacuated to escape the floods. "The river was so wide, it was creepy," Lila says as she throws a worried look at her husband Ray.
Relaxing in the afternoon heat, Ray changes the subject, talking of his love for ballroom dancing. Even though he does not grace the dance floors these days, he says all the dancing he did as a young man is the secret to his good health. "If there was a dance I'd be there," he recalls with a big smile on his face. It was at a dance towards the end of World War II, he remembers meeting the love of his life, Lila.
Ray followed work around to sawmills, fruit picking and he worked on the railways. When they retired, Ray and Lila set up a new home in St George, south west Queensland.
"I find St George pretty good. I was pretty happy and I thought St George will do me," he said. Ray and Lila built their new life and home in the small town. After many hot, dry years, in 2010 and 2011, floods nearly washed them away.
"There've been floods there for days, three years in a row, flooding, flooding, flooding. And I'm sick of that. That's life for you," Ray says.
Ray says he has seen his fair share of floods during his years. "I've been in it, right up to my neck in water," he recalls of one flood in another town many years ago, where he had to wade to safety.
This time, the Balonne River rose to a record 14 metres. "Just waiting for it to go down now. That's all I can do. I can't turn it or change it. That's the highest it's ever been in St George as far as I know."
Having experienced a few floods, Ray is happy he took some time to prepare and put most his possessions up high, including precious items.
Lila says she wishes she had been better prepared. "I forgot my medication and that made it pretty difficult. We just grabbed a few things and hoped for the best" she says. They had to leave two dogs behind, which was "a bit sad,"
One item Ray left behind was his precious old car. With a nervous laugh, Ray says he's worried it may have floated away.
It was sad leaving his home, Ray recalls. "It was heartbreaking really. All these years, I've built this home up. I never ever thought it would happen really."
Ray, Lila and many of those evacuated have been supported by Red Cross volunteers, who have been checking to make sure people are coping ok. "Red Cross has been really good to me. I reckon Red Cross do a marvellous job. Where would you be without them? Nowhere," Ray chuckles. "If you're looking for help, Red Cross is there for you."
Ray is very happy with is temporary home at the evacuation centre, though it is a little noisy at times. "You've got kiddies running around all night. But while they're happy, everyone else is happy."
"I'm looking forward to going home. You've got to face your problems some time. I'm just hoping for the best."
Lila says she's so grateful to the Red Cross volunteers, for running the evacuation centre. "They're so good for you. Like everyone else, I'll be glad to get home. I just hope we're all right."
Photos: Australian Red Cross/Jack Tran.