I have another message to relay today - this one of a considerably sadder nature.  By now you've all probably heard about the devastating floods sweeping through Queensland in Australia and threatening the state's capital city of Brisbane. As many of you also know, Brisbane is home base for one of the domain industry's most popular companies, Fabulous.com. 

In an effort to raise awareness and donations for the Queensland Flood Relief Appeal, Fab's Business Development Director, Michael Robertson, has been growing a beard and posting daily flood updates on Facebook along with photos of his steadily blossoming beard. 

Michael told me. "We're experiencing some of the worst floods seen since 1974. Myself and the Fab team are fine, but there are a lot of families that have lost everything, including lives." Michael urged anyone that can spare a few dollars to visit  the Queensland government's official donation collection site where the many options for sending funds are detailed.  

Michael Robertson 10 days into his
beard growing binge to raise awareness
for Queensland flood relief efforts. 

I had the pleasure of visiting Queensland when Fabulous.com hosted the November 2008 T.R.A.F.F.I.C. Down Under conference on the state's Gold Coast, about an hour south of Brisbane. It is a stunningly beautiful area blessed with some of the world's most friendly people so it is truly heartbreaking to hear about the devastation currently being wrought there. Our prayers are with everyone being affected by the flooding.