A new Brisbane CityCat unveiled today will be a permanent tribute to Brisbane’s Mud Army.

The ferry’s ceiling features a photo montage of volunteers who helped clean up in the wake of the January floods.

Ashton Rigg reports.

TRANSCRIPT

This ferry terminal was one of eight completely destroyed by the wild flood waters of the Brisbane River.

The newly rebuilt pontoon at West End was the setting for the launch of Brisbane’s 19th CityCat this morning.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, along with Julie Boucher from the Australian Red Cross, representing the volunteers, launched a $2.5 million vessel.

The Spirit of Brisbane pays tribute to the so-called Mud Army who worked effortlessly in the clean up.

Over several weeks, some 25,000 volunteers grabbed their brooms, gloves and gumboots and brought the beauty back to Brisbane.

Graham Quirk, Lord Mayor: “We acknowledge the people who came together, so well known now as the Mud Army, who delivered to Brisbane a sense of care, a sense of support and a sense of friendship, to our fellow Brisbanites in need in January this year.”

Inside the vessel, photos of the volunteers line the full length of the ceiling, a permanent tribute to their unselfish actions, helping others in their time of need.

The January floods saw 20,000 Brisbane homes inundated when the river broke its banks.

Today, the spirit of Brisbane stands strong as a reminder of the resilience of the Brisbane community.

Ashton Rigg, QUT News