Almost a week ago, Pat Budd lost her home and possessions in the flood that saw about 80 per cent of Mitchell, an hour west of Roma, inundated a week ago.

Clean-up crews from the Australian Army's Enoggera Barracks found Mrs Budd's jewellery buried deep in the mud outside her home, about 100 metres from the Maranoa River.

“They were clearing up in the rubbish there and I said keep your eyes out for anything that glitters,” she said.

“This lass said we'll go though it for you and said she'd promise she would find it."

And Mrs Budd said the soldier was true to her word.

“They found a little diamond necklace from Israel, a brooch my husband bought me, my grandmother's sapphire and gold bar brooch, my son's birth notification ... a little locket with some dog's hair in it because the dog passed away and an enamel brooch in the shape of a ship that was from my mother," she said.

“And my mother's bowling badge and a diamond that comes from Thailand for me that came from my son.

“Oh and yes, some pink diamonds in there somewhere.”

Almost 70, and with her husband Eddy in Brisbane's PA Hospital, the discovery brought a smile to Mrs Budd's face as she contemplated returning to her Mitchell home after it was cleaned by the Army for the second time today.

“I am so thankful to them, it's been great.”

Hervey Bay woman Laurin Orr, who was travelling through Mitchell last Friday to see her son further west, was trapped during during the flood.

She was among the volunteers who helped clean out Mrs Budd's house and the pair have since become close friends.

“I'm trying to get her to stay in Mitchell,” Mrs Budd said with a big smile.

“Laurin also found some jewellery as well, so that was lovely too.”

Mrs Budd is likely to return to her home in Mitchell today, if she can stomach the smell.