CHRISTMAS 2010 did not herald the season of gift-giving many Australians are used to.

In fact, it was almost the opposite for the people of Queensland and northern News South Wales.

It was in that traditionally festive period that the floods crisis first started to bite and would continue to do so for weeks.

Heavy rain fell on already saturated areas of Queensland and what followed was a chain of events that saw whole towns evacuated, major cities isolated and normally placid creeks turned into raging, fatal, torrents of terror.

At the height of the floods crisis, 75% of Queensland was flood affected including the state's capital, and dozens of people lost their lives.

However, through the despair we saw the courage of our communities shine through, and time after time stories of heroism and tales of mates helping mates came to the fore.

A special commemorative book has been published to capture the extraordinary events for all time.

The Floods Crisis 2010-2011 showcases all the drama and the heartbreak , region by region.

The story is told by APN journalists and photographers in affected communities, including Bundaberg.

The 68-page commemorative book goes on sale from today for $5, with $1 from each sale donated to the Premier's Disaster Relief Appeal.

You can buy the book online or at participating newsagents.