The Red Cross' Pat Mengle, Proserpine Community Centre coordinator Julie Scanlon and Girudala's Kalilia Parter accept a donation of a mobile smart antenna from Telstra Whitsunday's Ryan Langford.
The Red Cross' Pat Mengle, Proserpine Community Centre coordinator Julie Scanlon and Girudala's Kalilia Parter accept a donation of a mobile smart antenna from Telstra Whitsunday's Ryan Langford. Peter Carruthers

Telstra makes the connection at Proserpine centre

THE Proserpine Community Centre was inundated with water following Tropical Cyclone Debbie and still has a leaky roof nine weeks later.

Today the community centre is expected to find out how long the repairs are going to take.

The butterfly design of the building meant the intense downpour immediately following Debbie was channelled into a central gutter, which couldn't cope and water entered nearly every room in the facility.

Archives were lost from the Proserpine Family History unit after 15cm of water pooled on the floor.

All floor coverings have been removed and need replacing, along with the ceiling in the women's bathroom.

Community groups needing meeting rooms have had to make other arrangements while damage to the building is sorted out.

Community centre coordinator Julie Scanlon said she had lost eight consultation rooms usually used for counselling and specialist health care appointments.

"Until we know that we can provide them with a decent service, the rooms will remain closed,” Ms Scanlon said.

A faint light at the end of the tunnel presented itself on Monday afternoon in the form of Ryan Langford from Telstra Whitsunday.

Mr Langford came to donate a 4G mobile smart antenna, which would communicate with the hard-wired antenna on the building's roof and provide reliable internet and phone reception.

The steel structure of the centre means mobile networks don't work inside the building.

Just prior to the cyclone hitting, the problem was fixed with a similar device but it was destroyed in the deluge.

A donation of a new mobile antenna will mean better facilities and the ability to conduct "hot referrals” on the spot for the centre's users.

"People can see their counsellor, ring the people straight away and get them into those services that they require,” Ms Scanlon said.

Ms Scanlon said she was so grateful for the donation of the device to the centre.


$1.1b Bowen housing estate gets council tick of approval

Premium Content $1.1b Bowen housing estate gets council tick of approval

The development is set to boost the population by 50 per cent with more 2000 houses...

Labor blasted for opposing power station feasibility study

Premium Content Labor blasted for opposing power station feasibility study

The LNP’s passionate resource industry advocates were outraged Labor tried again to...