"I've got one simple question, which is really a statement, How good is Cloncurry?"
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That was the Prime Minister Scott Morrison's opening statement as he greeted members of the community at Cloncurry Bowls Club on Thursday night as the town gave him a rock star welcome.
Mr Morrison was greeted by a rapturous crowd that broke into spontaneous applause as he emerged from his car at the Club having just chaired a meeting with members of the North Queensland Livestock Recovery Agency.
And it was the aftermath of the floods that killed half a million cattle that brought the PM back to Cloncurry just three months after his last visit - and his first trip anywhere as a newly elected prime minister.
"I love coming here, it's an amazing community," Mr Morrison said.
"What I picked up from everyone (last time I was here) was the resilience we've been doing it for generations and we will continue to do it for generations.
"I left knowing absolutely what my job was - this part of Australia is going to be vibrant, successful, prosperous for generations to come."
It was a hero's welcome for the man that clearly recognised their plight following the overland cyclone that laid bare millions of square miles of north west Queensland in February, delivering a $2b rescue package after seeing the devastation with his own eyes.
As he walked into the town's bowls club, he accepted a beer from Cloncurry Bowls Club president Kevin Wehrman and then proceeded to shake the hand of every one of the hundreds of people that were there.
Later on the PM was joined by Deputy PM Michael McCormack and Cloncurry's own LNP Senator Elect Susan McDonald.
Also present were the mayors of six shires smashed by the extreme weather event, Queensland's disaster recovery coordinator Major-General Stuart Smith, North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency chairman Shane Stone and Traeger state MP Robbie Katter.
The PM was expected to visit flood-affected properties including Gipsy Plains on Friday and then head to Burke & Wills Campdraft later on the Friday.
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