Australia Weather News
Mount Isa residents hope their prayers for drenching rain are answered. - ABC
Despite recent rainfall across parts of western Queensland, residents will gather in the north-west today to pray for drenching rain.
More than 86 per cent of the state is now drought-declared.
It is the 13th annual prayer meeting in Mount Isa.
Organiser Father Mick Lowcock said while he hoped the event would bring the rain, it was also important to unite the community.
"Irrespective of whether prayer gives the result today, more importantly to me is it makes us [part] of the environment in which we live in," he said.
"I think people become isolated and there's a deep sense in which being isolated we don't really become a community and I think things like this can draw us together and helps us to be more of a community."
He said while there had been some good falls in recent weeks, much more was needed.
"Even the storms we've had, they haven't been really black, so I'm really looking forward to a really black storm," he said.
"I think there's something in asking for something because if you never ask you never get sometimes and I think we can take it for granted then that things are going to happen and to me it's really important that we gather and ask God because I think that's part of the whole way in which we live.
"It's by asking that we appreciate more and more the gift we have."
ABC