Hand in hand today as they stand on the banks of the creek near their home in Queensland’s Lockyer Valley, John Warhurst and Charlotte Bull can’t believe they are still alive – let alone looking forward to what looks set to be the happiest day of their lives.

Out of the personal tragedy and horror of the Queensland floods – which robbed John of his dad Bruce - they found each other, and a new beginning. Remembering the darkness of those days, when his father was taken from him, John can’t believe he found such a wonderful reason to go on.

‘I had a feeling something was wrong when I tried calling Dad and it went straight to voicemail,’ he recalls of the horrible news his family home was in the path of the flood. ‘I was stranded and by the time I got back here Dad still hadn’t been found.’

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Across the creek from the Warhursts’ family home a beautiful young woman Charlotte Bull sat with her family as they tallied up the damage to their home – and counted their blessings they had miraculously survived the horrendous inland tsunami.

‘We made it to our rooftop and we could see our neighbours’ houses ripped up off their foundations and wash away before our eyes,’ remembers Charlotte. ‘We saw things that day that will forever haunt me – helpless people being swept away – it was frightening especially not being able to help them.

‘My Dad knew John’s dad Bruce and had seen him just that morning, so when we heard he was missing I decided I wanted to help look for him,’ says Charlotte, who is also 23 years old.

Donning her gumboots, Charlotte joined the search party at dawn the next day. Introducing herself to the group, one ‘very cute’ young man stepped forward to introduce himself.

‘We’d been neighbours all these years and here we are meeting for the first time – I went all weak in the knees!’ she remembers. ‘I realised he was Bruce’s son and it made it even more important we had to try and find his dad.’

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As the pair hiked for weeks through the muddy creek beds, Charlotte and John found they had so much in common. ‘We were inseparable and slowly we both knew our romance could be the beginning of something wonderful – but it was so hard knowing Bruce was still missing,’ says Charlotte.

Almost a month after Bruce’s disappearance, John got the devastating news he’d been dreading. His dad’s body had been found, 5kms down the valley from the family home.

‘Even though you know deep down it doesn’t make it any easier, Charlotte and her family were so supportive and loving – I wouldn’t be here today without them,’ he says.

And in August this year, almost seven months after meeting in murky floodwaters, John, a self-confessed hopeless romantic, proposed to his ‘princess’ in grand style.

‘I went to the local paper and posted a huge ad in the TV guide section – I knew I could get Charlotte to look there - “Charlotte . . . Will you marry me?” it read.
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I asked her that day to check if our favourite show was on and she almost missed it! Then she just burst into tears,’ he says grinning from ear to ear.

Recalls Charlotte: ‘I just kept saying yes, yes, yes - I’ll marry you, my darling!’

Losing almost all their worldly possessions in the flood, the couple have struggled to even afford an engagement ring. But the generosity of so many people from across Queensland has meant that Charlotte’s dream to have a fairytale dream wedding has come true.

‘We were overwhelmed to be honest. Michael Hill Jewellers has given us my beautiful 1 carat solitaire engagement ring, and has also given us our stunning wedding bands. And there’s so much more – dresses, honeymoon, venue, decorations, cake – it’s all come from the amazing people of Queensland.

‘We’re humbled and so very grateful,’ says an emotional Charlotte.

But despite all the fanfare, only one thing really counts for Charlotte. ‘The legacy of all that we’ve been through despite being stripped down to nothing after losing absolutely everything, is that we’ve found each other,’ she says.

Although overjoyed at his impending wedding, one person will be dearly missed – with John saying he’s sad his sweet natured dad never got to meet Charlotte.

‘He would have loved her – she’s the most wonderful woman in the world,’ he says.

‘I really believe my dad is my guardian angel. He has my back, our back, and for the rest of my life I will always know he played a hand in getting Charlotte and I together. Thanks Dad.’

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