Cardwell: Maxine Millwood finally settled
On February 3 last year, the biggest cyclone in memory smashed into the Far North Queensland coast. Residents lost their homes, farmers lost their crops and businesses lost their livelihoods. How is the impact zone faring one year on?
CARDWELL octogerian Maxine captured the hearts of the nation last year. She finally moved into her rebuilt house on December 7, almost a year after cylone Yasi gutted her home.
The photograph of Maxine standing on sand covering the floor of her beachfront home, surveying the devastation, was one of the most poignant depictions of the human face of the cyclone.
308 days after cyclone Yasi, Cardwell's Maxine Millwood finally goes home | Maxine's show of true courage after Yasi filled her home with sand | Photos: see inside Maxine's rebuilt home | More cyclone Yasi videos
"I moved back home just before Christmas and everything has been lovely," Maxine says.
"Everything is new so I still have to break it in to make it home."
Maxine had her four-bedroom home rebuilt by Cardwell builders despite people telling her to sell up and move on.
It was a turbulent year for Maxine, who not only suffered cyclone Yasi, but lost her daughter, and even her dog.
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Joyful return: Maxine Millwood’s house was devastated after cyclone Yasi hit Cardwell in February but now her house is all fixed and she is looking forward to moving back in. Picture: TOM LEE
