PREMIER CALLS ON QUEENSLANDERS TO PRAY FOR RAIN
Published Wednesday, 01 November, 2006 at 11:28 AM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie will attend tomorrow’s launch of Water: A time for Prayer at St John’s Anglican Cathedral in Brisbane.
Mr Beattie said Brisbane’s Christian churches had come together to dedicate a week of prayer (5-12 November) to rain.
“Queensland is enduring the worst drought in 100 years,” Mr Beattie said.
“The effects have been catastrophic for many of our farmers and primary producers but the affects of this drought don’t stop at the farm gate.
“As water levels continue to drop and our paddocks, pastures, parks and gardens turn to brown, all of us have had to re-assess how we consume our most precious resource.
“Earlier this year I invited the leaders of our Christian churches to lend their support in the fight against drought by encouraging members of their congregations to pray for rain.
“I thank them for their response in coming together and dedicating a week of prayer to rain.”
Mr Beattie said the initiative was not restricted to Brisbane.
“The heads of Christian churches throughout the State have responded enthusiastically to the call to galvanise the power of prayer at this critical time.
“And I also have written to the leaders of other religious communities asking them to support this effort.
“The Government is working hard to meet the challenges of the drought and will spend billions of dollars to “drought proof” south east Queensland as much as is humanly possible.
“We are well underway to establishing that water grid and we have joined forces with councils across South-East Queensland to build pipelines between dams and move water from one area to another, depending on need.
“But as I have always said – we cannot make it rain.”
Mr Beattie encouraged people across the State to support this week of prayer.
“Let all Queenslanders pray for rain,” he said.
ENDS
Wednesday, 1 November 2006
Media: 3406 7105 or 0448 757 086
Mr Beattie said Brisbane’s Christian churches had come together to dedicate a week of prayer (5-12 November) to rain.
“Queensland is enduring the worst drought in 100 years,” Mr Beattie said.
“The effects have been catastrophic for many of our farmers and primary producers but the affects of this drought don’t stop at the farm gate.
“As water levels continue to drop and our paddocks, pastures, parks and gardens turn to brown, all of us have had to re-assess how we consume our most precious resource.
“Earlier this year I invited the leaders of our Christian churches to lend their support in the fight against drought by encouraging members of their congregations to pray for rain.
“I thank them for their response in coming together and dedicating a week of prayer to rain.”
Mr Beattie said the initiative was not restricted to Brisbane.
“The heads of Christian churches throughout the State have responded enthusiastically to the call to galvanise the power of prayer at this critical time.
“And I also have written to the leaders of other religious communities asking them to support this effort.
“The Government is working hard to meet the challenges of the drought and will spend billions of dollars to “drought proof” south east Queensland as much as is humanly possible.
“We are well underway to establishing that water grid and we have joined forces with councils across South-East Queensland to build pipelines between dams and move water from one area to another, depending on need.
“But as I have always said – we cannot make it rain.”
Mr Beattie encouraged people across the State to support this week of prayer.
“Let all Queenslanders pray for rain,” he said.
ENDS
Wednesday, 1 November 2006
Media: 3406 7105 or 0448 757 086