My 'office' in that tropical location is a roller table on the veranda that overlooks the Whitsunday Islands, and at afternoon tea-time, I noticed the floor was jiggling and the windows were rattling. The computer was also shaking and I grabbed the flat screen thinking it might topple off the desk.
I took off through the front door toward the washing machine; but Delma called out that it wasn't turned on, she was not doing any washing. At least 20 seconds must have passed by, and I walked back to the veranda that was still shaking. I then thought it may have been the wind, as the windows were rattling.
Delma was the first to realise it was a tremor. Later news reports said it lasted for 30 seconds, which on reflection we concurred.
Thirty minutes later we felt another minor quake that may have lasted for 5-6 seconds.
A preliminary report by Geoscience Australia registered the Queensland earthquake at 5.4 magnitude earthquake but, it was later revised to 5.2. It is the strongest earthquake in Queensland since a similar one in Toowoomba (further south) in 1965.
This one occurred about 60 km to the north west of where we were at the time, and about 10 km under the surface of the earth.
However, as a Christian, although this one that I experienced is minor (and caused no damage or loss of life), I have become more aware of the plight of those who experienced loss and trauma during the much larger earthquakes recently in New Zealand and Japan and the recent tornadoes in the USA.
My prayers go for those who have been affected by the much larger catastrophes in recent years.