Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association

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Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
Volunteer
the

Issue 40 | June 2017
ISSN 1445-3886 | PP 100018972

REGULAR FEATURES                From the Chairman   From the Commissioner
Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
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Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
Volunteer
the

 NSW SES VOLUNTEERS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President of the Board of Directors                                         Director                                                                     Director
Charlie Moir ESM (Inverell)                                                 Kim Davis ESM (Captains Flat)                                                Kim Edwards (Waverley/Woolhara)
0428 401 443                                                                kim.davis@nswsesva.org.au                                                    kim.edwards@nswsesva.org.au
chairman@nswsesva.org.au
                                                                            Director                                                                     Director
Chief Executive Officer                                                     Neville O’Malley (Tabulam)                                                   Vacant
Andrew Edwards                                                              neville.omalley@nswsesva.org.au
andrew.edwards@nswsesva.org.au
                                                                            Director
                                                                            Patricia Orchard (Tamworth)
                                                                            patricia.orchard@nswsesva.org.au

 NSW SES VOLUNTEERS ASSOCIATION AREA REPRESENTATIVES

Sydney Northern Area                                                        Central West Area                                                            Sydney Southern Area
Graham Kinder (Manly)                                                       Rob Hines (Orange)                                                           Pat Johnson ESM (Sydney Southern HQ)
sydneynorthern@nswsesva.org.au                                              centralwest@nswsesva.org.au                                                  sydneysouthern@nswsesva.org.au

Hunter Area                                                                 Macquarie Area                                                               Southern Highlands Area
Peta Luke (Merriwa)                                                         Kurt Andrew (Dubbo)                                                          Patricia Maxwell (Queanbeyan)
hunter@nswsesva.org.au                                                      macquarie@nswsesva.org.au                                                    southernhighlands@nswsesva.org.au

Clarence-Nambucca Area                                                      Far West Area                                                                Murrumbidgee Area
Mark Neal (Nambucca)                                                        Paul Kaye (Broken Hill)                                                      Madison Harvey (Wagga Wagga)
clarencenambucca@nswsesva.org.au                                            farwest@nswsesva.org.au                                                      murrumbidgee@nswsesva.org.au

Mid North Coast Area                                                        Lachlan Area                                                                 Illawarra South Coast Area
Cheryl Goodchild (Taree)                                                    Vacant                                                                       Lisa Williams (Eden)
midnorthcoast@nswsesva.org.au                                               lachlan@nswsesva.or.au                                                       illawarrasouthcoast@nswsesva.org.au

Richmond Tweed Area                                                         Sydney Western Area
Kristine McDonald (Tweed Heads)                                             Vacant (Sydney Western HQ)
richmondtweed@nswsesva.org.au                                               sydneywestern@nswsesva.org.au

Namoi/North West Area                                                       Murray Area
Vacant (Namoi Region HQ)                                                    Susan Leckie (Murray HQ)
namoi@nswsesva.org.au                                                       murray@nswsesva.org.au

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The Volunteer Editor:                                                       Advertisers Alert                                                            Countrywide Austral
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Unit 1, 2-6 Lindsay Street, Rockdale NSW 2216                               South Wales State Emergency Service Volunteers                               Postal: GPO Box 2466,
Phone: 1300 0 SES VA                                                        Association as the authorised publisher of                                   Melbourne 3001
Mobile: 0408 161 018                                                        The Volunteer. For enquiries re advertising in this                          Ph: (03) 9937 0200 Fax: (03) 9937 0201
Email: editor@nswsesva.org.au                                               magazine, please contact the publishers:                                     Email: admin@cwaustral.com.au

   DISCLAIMER: Countrywide Austral (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are the sole discretion of the New South Wales State Emergency Service Volunteers Association and the publication is offered
for information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by
implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained
in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the publisher, its directors and employees. COPYRIGHT: All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to
copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright. ADVERTISING: Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no
special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.

                                                                                                                                                                                             NSWSESVA.ORG.AU                       1
Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
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Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
Contents  REGULAR FEATURES
          4   From the President
          4   From the Minister
          5   From the Commissioner
          7   From the Editor
          48 NSW SES Region Headquarters

          FEATURES
          9	The NSW SES and NSWRFS
             Young People in Emergency
             Services Awards
          10 Large Animal Rescue Master Class
          12	Vertical Rescue Training
              Wingecarribee Unit
          14	Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
              2017 Kokoda Trek
          17 Exercise Tail Wind
          18	Updates from the Capability
              Development Group
          21	NSW State Emergency Service
              Voluteers Compete in NSW Police
              Equestrian Games
          22 The Tail End of Debbie
          27	A Glimpse of the New SHQ
              Building Located in Burelli
              Street Wollongong
          28	SES — RFS Training in Helicopter
              Flood Operations
          30 Exercise Star
          32 Saving Lives is in Our Blood
          34	Sydney Western Rescue Competition
          37 RescuExperience

10   14   38	Northern Rivers Floods —
              an SES Community Liaison
              Officer’s Perspective
          42	The Emerging Generation and the
              Impact on Volunteering
          44 The Fleet Project
          45 Growing Support
          47 Search and Rescue

32   38
                                 NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   3
Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
FROM THE PRESIDENT

                                               We will be working together, growing
                                               the volunteer culture even stronger.

    CHARLIE MOIR ESM                           volunteers- but we have made it            aren’t always going to be sure how
    PRESIDENT NSW SES                          through all of that, and to some degree    to get there. But we will be working
    VOLUNTEERS ASSOCIATION                     we are stronger for it.                    together, growing the volunteer
                                                   With Commissioner Smethurst now        culture even stronger and getting the
                                               at the helm, he has big ideas and even     communities we help as much support

    A
            nd just like that, half the year   bigger strategies to get us there. This    as we can.
            has been and gone! And it’s        will be a time of transformation for our       In the Volunteers Association, we
            not just the seasons that          Service, and it couldn’t come too soon.    also will be looking at transforming
    are changing!                                  I have had numerous meetings           the way we do things – we have
        We are seeing big changes in our       with our Commissioner now, and I           started small with changes to the
    Service and it is time to embrace them     am walking away from them feeling          way we process and allocate our
    and get onto a steady track.               energised, and confident that he is        funding schemes (you can find more
        For a number of years now, we have     putting us on the path to success. It      information on this further in the
    been in a state of limbo. We have had      probably won’t be easy, and there will     magazine), and will be continuing to
    five Commissioners, talk of region         be moments when we know what we            shake things up as we need to make
    restructures, changes in staff and         want the future to look like but we        this the best Association it can be.

     FROM THE MINISTER

                                               and dedication of our emergency            the troops in Lismore, Banora Point,
                                               services volunteers and personnel.         Griffith, Sutherland, Bankstown,
                                               SES volunteers have made huge              Penrith, Bourke and Cobar. I have also
                                               contributions protecting people across     visited the SES HQ, presented the
                                               the state as severe storms battered        awards for the SES Young volunteers
                                               NSW. The North Coast was hardest hit       and enjoyed watching the State Rescue
                                               by severe weather as Cyclone Debbie        Challenge at Alliance Stadium. Most
                                               made its way down the Eastern Sea          recently, I was thrilled to announce
                                               Board. North Coast residents are facing    the 24 finalists for the 2017 Rotary
                                               enormous challenges in the wake of         NSW Emergency Services Community
                                               these floods, and the NSW Government       Awards. Congratulations to the four
    TROY GRANT MP                              will be with them every step of the way    SES nominees.
    MINISTER FOR                               on their path to recovery.                     So often our emergency services
    EMERGENCY SERVICES                              I’ve visited Lismore and the Tweed    volunteers are the quiet achievers who
                                               twice since the devastating floods.        work tirelessly to ensure the safety
                                               On the ground I was impressed by the       of others in times of disaster and
                                               contribution of the SES, and ultimately,   devastation. Over the past few months
                                               their courage and professionalism          SES volunteers have been flat out. You

    T
            he past few months have been       in the face of great adversity. The        are our local heroes, and we owe you
            incredibly busy – quite a start    recovery efforts continue, and I thank     an enormous debt of gratitude for the
            as the new Emergency Services      all SES members involved for their         crucial work you do. I look forward to
    Minister! First and foremost, I would      outstanding efforts.                       continuing to meet volunteers and
    like to put it on the record that I am          Since becoming the Minister I’ve      personnel in local units across the
    immensely proud of the commitment          thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of         State during my travels.

4   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
FROM THE COMMISSIONER

D
         ear Members. In my first 3         the predicted increasing intensity
         months with the Service, I         and frequency of severe weather
         have achieved one of my initial    events, we need to address this
priorities, which was to visit all of our   situation immediately.
Regions. During these visits I also              Supporting this, are some
endeavoured to get out to as many           interesting facts and figures on our
Units and activities as I could and meet    recruitment and retention from the
with you. For those of you that I haven’t   2014 NSW Auditor General’s Report.
managed to meet as yet, my intent is to     The report states that we have around
conduct as many Unit visits as possible     1700 people join the Service annually,
and I will continue to get out regularly    however, we are seeing around 26%
and specifically attend your major          of our people leave every year. This         MARK SMETHURST DSC, AM
events and activities.                      is a 6% higher than average loss for a                COMMISSIONER
     As you know, we are well into          volunteer organisation. We also know
implementing our Strategic Plan             that approximately half the people that
2016 – 2021, which is the blueprint         join the NSW SES annually, leave within         Of course there will be a lot of
for the delivery of our business as an      their first year.                          supporting work to assist us with the
emergency service. To further target             Clearly this information is telling   Volunteering Reimagined strategy, and
our work and clarify our objectives         us we need to improve the way we           this is where many of the key actions
we have now focused specifically            do things to retain our volunteer          of the Action Plan 2017 -2019 will come
on the next two years of work and           members. After all, we invest heavily      in to improve efficiencies and enhance
produced an Action Plan 2017-2019.          in conducting training, providing PPE      processes. Work is already underway
It has been a collaborative effort to       and making available professional          on improving the way we undertake
develop the Action Plan involving           development opportunities. Every           and deliver training, and the NSW SES
members from across the Service,            Unit’s long term viability to deliver      Training and Development Review
including Volunteers, Regional              to its community is dependent              Model project is another critical piece
Controllers, Managers, the Strategic        upon having a reliable, trained and        of work that will feed into the broader
Leadership Team and the NSW SES             equipped volunteers.                       recruitment and retention agenda.
Volunteers Association, to ensure                So we need to reflect on our               I appreciate that there is a lot
its clarity and intent. This plan has a     approach to volunteering, and think        of change happening and this can
range of key goals for the Service and      a bit more laterally about how we can      be very challenging, as well as
I see that this will greatly enhance the    bring people into the Service and keep     liberating. None of the work ahead
volunteer experience and build our          them. It’s about being more flexible       of us is insurmountable, and all of
operational capability.                     about what we expect from our              it is beneficial and necessary to get
     So how will the NSW SES look as we     members and how they can contribute        us where we need to go. By 2019
move forward?                               to the work of the Service. In essence     we will have a truly superior Service,
     Primarily, we need to increase         it’s Volunteering Reimagined, and          one that is better embedded within
both our capacity and capability. Over      that is what our new strategy is called.   communities, with a strong base of
the past 12 months, the pressure on         This strategy is now available to all      well trained, diverse, capable and
the Service and its people to respond       members to view and provide feedback       reliable people.
to protracted events has become             on. I encourage your thoughts, ideas            We will be closer to our goal of
evident. We have seen this both in the      and concerns on this important piece       being the best volunteer emergency
field and in operations centres. With       of work.                                   service in Australia.

     CRITICAL INCIDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM
                              1800 626 800
                                                                                                          NSWSESVA.ORG.AU        5
Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
Collaborating for Success
                                                     Improving performance in
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Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
FROM THE EDITOR

From the Editor
PAT JOHNSON ESM
EDITOR

A
         nother magazine rolls around
         once more it seems like only
         yesterday that I put the April
one to bed. Again thank you all for your
contribution it is only with your input
that we can make it a great magazine.
    Please don’t forget that the
September one will be ”Pink”
supporting breast cancer. I have so far
two lovely ladies that have given me
some input but need much more in the
way of support with articles and ideas
to help make it a great issue.                    Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness
    As I always say, enjoy your magazine.

   NSW SES Peer Support
   The Peer Support team is available to       We are there to listen to whatever       them. They are there to take calls at
   all SES members and their families.         it is that is bothering you: it can be   those times when you just need to
   »» Peers are volunteers who are             service related, family related or       talk to someone straight away.
        active within their own units          work related. We are a listening             We have peers, Chaplains and
        and regions                            ear; there to talk to you and where      access to a psychologist depending
   »» Peers have been trained to               you can be assured it will remain        on your needs.
        be a listening ear when you            confidential. Sometimes by just              Please ensure you have the
        or your family members need            talking to someone you will be           1800 626 800 number saved in your
        that ear                               surprised at the clarity and sense of    phones and in the phones of the ones
   »» Peers have varying degrees of            relief you will find.                    you care about.
        talents, skills and years of service        Our Duty Officers in Peer Support       Watch this space over the next
        within the NSW SES                     are there to take calls from our         few publications on more of what
   »» Some of us are young; some of us         members and their family. Like any       we do and who we are. An EOI will
        are older and come from diverse        other DO within the service – they       be announced later for those of you
        backgrounds, race, cultures            are on call 24 hours a day 7 days a      who would be interested in training
        and experience                         week – no time is a bad time to call     to become a Peer Supporter.

   Volunteer's Members Update
   The office has been working on updating the Member Data base to ensure that we have all the
   correct contact details for our Members. If you need to update your details please either email the
   office at office@nswsesva.org.au or call on 1300 073 782.

                                                                                                            NSWSESVA.ORG.AU     7
Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
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DONATE BLOOD
AND YOU’LL SAVE
THREE LIVES.

                                                                                                                       On behalf of Camden Council
                                                                                                                       I would like to thank all the
                                                                                                                       volunteers in the Camden
                                                                                                                       Local Government Area
                                                                                                                       and throughout the State for

AND GET THE                                                                                                            their wonderful and tireless
                                                                                                                       support and acknowledge their
BEST BISCUIT EVER.                                                                                                     significant contributions.
                                                                                                                       Mayor of Camden,
                                                                                                                       Councillor Lara Symkowiak

To donate, call 13 14 95                                                                               70 Central Ave, Oran Park
or visit donateblood.com.au                                                                            P. 4654 7777
                                                                                                       W. www.camden.nsw.gov.au
YOUNG PEOPLE IN EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARDS

The NSW SES and NSWRFS Young
People in Emergency Services Awards

T
        his year during National Youth
        Week the NSW SES Volunteer
        Association proudly supported
the NSW SES and NSWRFS Young
People in Emergency Services Awards
that were held at NSW Parliament
House on Wednesday 5 April, 2017.
     The Hon. Troy Grant MP, Minister
for Police and Minister for Emergency
Services and NSW SES Commissioner
Mark Smethurst DSC, AM presented
NSW SES Cadet, Sasha Cox from Broken
Hill High School with the NSW SES
Cadet of the Year Award and Yvette
Amos from the Snowy River Unit with
the NSW SES Young Volunteer Award.
     Year 11 student, Sasha Cox was
chosen to receive the Cadet of the
Year Award because of the leadership,
maturity and passion for helping her         peers. Marc went on to say that many       has served as the Unit and Local
peers that she demonstrated during           young people had been inspired to join     Controller. NSW SES Commissioner,
a Secondary School Cadet program in          the Broken Hill SES Unit over the past 5   Mark Smethurst congratulated Yvette
Broken at Broken Hill High School in         due to the influence of the Secondary      and acknowledged that she became
2016. Deputy Region Controller, Marc         Schools Cadet Program.                     one of the youngest volunteers ever to
Coulter nominated Sasha for the award            Yvette Amos was presented with         hold the position of Unit Controller in
and spoke in glowing terms about             the NSW SES Young Volunteer of             the NSW SES when she was appointed
Sasha’s commitment to serving her            the Year Award by the Minister in          to the role in 2012 at the age of 21.
local community as well as her passion       recognition of her commitment to
to continually promote the benefits of       learning and support of volunteers         By Todd Burns
engagement with the NSW SES to her           in the Snowy River Unit where she          Coordinator Youth Engagement

Umbrellas Coming this July

C
       oming in early July, pre-order
       your SES Umbrella now. This
       new look golf sized Umbrella
has branding on the inside and outside
                                                                                                on sale
large white panels. This item is a must
in preparing for those cold winter rainy
                                                                                                 until
                                                                                               sold out
days or when you have to do interviews
on TV! This is a limited run item and will
be on sale at $29.95 until sold out.
Pre-orders are being taken at
https://www.nswsesva.org.au/shop/
remember to login to purchase this item.

                                                                                                            NSWSESVA.ORG.AU       9
LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE MASTER CLASS

     Large Animal Rescue
     Master Class
     G
             eneral Land Rescue units              poor animal handling and poor           Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service (UK)
             in NSW are often called to            rescue techniques.                      supported by David King (Hawkesbury
             undertake large animal rescue             NSW SES Operational Capability      Unit), Anthony Hatch (Griffith Unit) and
     operations. Under the State Rescue            hosted a multi-agency Large Animal      Grant McClory (Operational Capability).
     Policy ‘Rescue’ means the safe removal        Rescue Operations (LARO) master class      The workshop covered a wide
     of persons or ‘animals’ from actual or        at the Australian Racing and Equine     range of common situations large
     threatened danger of physical harm’           Academy on the Richmond TAFE            animals get themselves into with
     (NSW State Rescue Policy — 3rd                College (Western Sydney Institute).     participants taking home some very
     Edition Version 3.5 December 2014).           TAFE also provided an opportunity for   important lessons:
     SES, as the combat agency for floods,         our members to obtain a statement
     may also be tasked to relocate large          of attainment for ‘Rescue animals and   BEWARE THE ‘CALM’
     animals isolated by flood water or            apply basic first aid’.                 TRAPPED HORSE
     stranded in flood water.                          NSW SES members with LARO           When working around trapped animals
         The rescue of large animals poses         experience from around the State        it is easy to be lulled into a false sense
     a number of unique risks to our               joined members from the Volunteer       of security if they do not appear to be
     rescuers, associated with handling            Rescue Association (VRA), Police        struggling. Horses, for instance, will
     animals and basic animal behaviour            Rescue Squad, South Australia SES,      give up easily, rest for a while and then
     (the survival instinct of fight or flight).   RSPCA and the NZ SPCA in two            explode momentarily before calming
     There is a very real risk of injury to        days large animal rescue operations     again. This unpredictable behavioural
     an untrained rescuer and the risk of          facilitated by Anton Phillips, a        process will continue if not controlled.
     injury or death to the animal through         large animal rescue specialist from     The horse can literally ‘self destruct’.

10   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
LARGE ANIMAL RESCUE MASTER CLASS

Animals may also struggle if stimulated   REQUEST A LARGE ANIMAL                       or relocated. Can you access a nearby
by the rescue operation (noise —          VETERINARIAN ASAP                            paddock or is it being transported to
movement — vibrations), rescuers          Working in close proximity to any            the veterinary practice?
(loud and excited) or an emotional        entrapped horse can impose a major
owner (crying or screaming).              risk to rescue operators. As soon as         IT DOESN’T TAKE A LOT OF
                                          possible, a vet should be requested to       WATER TO DROWN A HORSE
PROVIDE RESTRAINT                         attend the incident. Get the owner to        Horses can quickly succumb to
Always place a head restraint             request their vet. Sedation of the horse     pneumonia if they inhale a small
(commercial halter or improvised          should ensure it will not react quickly      amount of water. Always keep the
halter) onto the horse prior to           or unexpectedly to stimuli - but can still   horse’s head out of water.
undertaking any form of rescue            walk/move to assist the rescue.                  All participants could have easily
or relocation.                                HOWEVER, a sedated horse can still       spent another two days listening to
                                          react to stimuli and give you a kick.        Anton’s stories as he shared his wealth
A RELEASED ANIMAL MAY                         If required, the vet can also            of large animal rescue experiences.
TAKE FLIGHT                               anaesthetise the horse for a short period.
Once sensing freedom herd animals may
attempt to return to the herd with no     DETERMINE WHAT TO DO
regard for those around the scene of      WITH THE ANIMAL ONCE IT
operations. This is also an important     HAS BEEN RESCUED
reason to provide some form of ‘quick     Take your time to arrange how and            By David King Deputy Controller
release’ on a vertical lifting system.    where the animal is going once rescued       Hawkesbury SES Unit

                                                                                                           NSWSESVA.ORG.AU       11
VERTICAL RESCUE TRAINING

     Vertical Rescue Training
     Wingecarribee Unit

     W
                 ith the increase of rescues
                 around the Wingecarribee
                 Shire, the SES, is constantly
     training new members.
         The whole of the Wingecarribee
     Shire is surrounded by escarpments,
     and although there are walking tracks
     and signage throughout the area, the
     public disregard the warning signs
     along the escarpments and descend
     into the valleys.
         The public are not only putting their
     own lives on the line, but also those of
     the SES and helicopter crews who have
     to risk their lives to retrieve them.
         Too often SES is called out to find
     lost bush walkers and often have to
     carry injured walkers out, with others
     having to be rescued by helicopter.
         Wingecarribee SES has the most
     unusual cliff training area at Hill Top.
     Training takes place at what is believed
     to be the deepest railway cutting in
     New South Wales. It is part of the
     first railway system into the Southern
     Highlands in the 1800s.

12   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
VERTICAL RESCUE TRAINING

            NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   13
SALVATION ARMY KOKODA TREK

     Salvation Army Red Shield
     Appeal 2017 Kokoda Trek
     I TREK TO GIVE HOPE
     C
             ourage, Endurance, Mateship
             and Sacrifice
                 We started the Kokoda trek
     from South to North. The PNG locals
     said that the Salvation Army direction
     from Owers Corner is the hardest
     trail that anyone could possibly take,
     especially during the wet season in
     April. The trek is normally walked in the
     opposite direction.
         Since the beginning of our trek,
     we were advised that the challenge
     was to climb over ten difficult peaks,
     the last peak being the hardest one,
     a 2,190 metres high climb. After we
     had reached the highest peak then
     we needed to descend a steep trek
     to Kokoda. The whole journey took
     nine days to complete; the terrain
     conditions were wet, muddy, slippery            After we arrived at Owers Corner,       day, we finally arrived at Brigade
     and humid which made our journey            we immediately proceeded to descend.        Hill. We were mentally and physically
     extremely hard and challenging.             It was a path no wider than two feet        exhausted but with a great sense of
         Before our arrival at PNG, our first    and the terrain was slippery and            accomplishment; we were happy and
     drama started at Brisbane airport on        muddy. As we kept walking, the night        relieved that we did it. During this trek,
     Wednesday, when we tried to check           caught up with us without any warning       we supported and motivated each
     in and found out that our group (30         before we reached the campsite. While       other. On a personal reflection, I felt
     of us) were not on the passengers list.     I got my torch and headlamp out I           so proud to be Australian and be at
     However, after few enquiries made           realised that I forgotten to load any       Brigade Hill for my very first Anzac Day
     by the organisers; at least 11 of our       batteries before starting the trek. We      dawn service outside of Australia. I was
     members were able to go on the first        needed to change our boots to thongs,       standing where our diggers attempted
     flight. The rest of us were scheduled       as we needed to cross a river, which        to halt the strong Japanese advance
     for the second flight leaving at midday,    rose to our knees with fast currents. It    force. Our diggers sacrificed so much
     but that was cancelled due to some          was so nerve-racking but challenging        for what we all take for granted today;
     technical issues. We flew the next day      to adapt to this situation while in         our “freedom”. This was an emotional
     arriving on Thursday afternoon, so we       pitch darkness.                             moment for me to be here. While I was
     lost a day of our scheduled trip in PNG.        Every day was a challenging             self-reflecting, the Last Post was played
     On the day we arrived, we needed to         endurance; the ability to continue our      followed by a minute of silence and the
     be in our camping site before nightfall.    journey needed resilience, strength         only noise I could hear was the “Aussie”
     We boarded a bus that drove us to the       and energy. Fatigue and muscular pain       flag flapping by the light wind. There
     hotel. At the hotel, we had one hour        tested our ability to push on regardless.   was no way of comprehending what
     to unpack our gear and repacked it          The mission was to arrive at Brigade        our diggers had gone through and the
     into our porter’s backpacks (weighing       Hill on 24th April, so we could be there    sacrifices they made during their battle
     approximately 20 kg) and the rest           and commemorate the dawn service            for survival in Kokoda. It was a very
     of our gear was packed into our day         of the 75th Anniversary of Kokoda           emotional time as there were a few
     backpack (which needed to be less           on Anzac Day. It took us a few days to      members in our team who had close
     than 6kg). An hour later, we proceeded      reach to Brigade Hill, we had to climb      family connections with Kokoda.
     boarding the bus again that drove           two major hills, first hill was 1,350           After we left Brigade Hill and
     us to our destination, the ride took        metres high and the second was 1,415        headed to our next destination,
     several hours to reach our destination,     metres. The terrain was rugged and          the Efogi Mountain. This mountain
     Owers Corner.                               physically challenging. On the fourth       marked the halfway of our Salvation

14   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
SALVATION ARMY KOKODA TREK

Army Trekking. We knew that the trek            We were all mentally and physically       the question as it cost $3,000, covered
wouldn’t be an easy task. We had a few      exhausted from trekking for nine hours        by insurance for medical emergency
days of difficult climbs starting with      every day. Trekking through muddy             only. The only way out of this
1,415 metres, followed by 2,025 metres      and wet pathways was not easy; every          demanding journey was to “ just do it”,
and then a third one of 2,085 metres.       step in the mud and water made our            regardless. I needed to push through
Still, there was one more mountain          feet feel two kilograms heavier. The          the pain, blisters, mental fatigue
to climb, the PNG porters called it         ascending and descending climbs on            and exhaustion. Thankfully, through
“The Wall”, and the mountain was            the rugged paths was a daily challenge;       encouragement from the team and
located at Mt Bellamy (which was 2,190      slippery rocks, uneven surfaces,              porters I made it to “The Wall”. As I
metres high). We needed to climb this       protruding roots and fallen logs from         mentioned before, this climb was a
mountain almost vertically before we        the trees made trekking almost an             near vertical slope, it was the longest
could start descending to Kokoda.           impossible task while we tried to keep        day climbing. This climb took every bit
    Kathy (Team Leader) made the            our feet dry and free from blisters.          of concentration, energy, strength and
decision for us to get up early because         I would be lying to you if I didn’t say   determination left in my body. There
she didn’t want us to get caught up in      that I was going to quit after two days       was no time for fear or “I cannot do
the rain again or trek at night, it was     of this challenging trek. However, my         this”, there was no way around it. I was
too dangerous to do so. Consequently,       choices of getting out were limited.          carefully paying attention and focusing
we had to get up at 4:30am every            These were my options: two days               on every single step “John” my porter
morning, packed our bags and have           walking back to Owers Corner or two           was taking, I clearly remember what
breakfast so we could start our journey     days walking forward to a village where       John’s instruction was: “follow every
by 6am. The trek was taking its toll; our   possibly a private helicopter could           step that I take, and when I reach for
bodies were not able to recover as fast     pick me up. The medical emergency
as we wished.                               helicopter service was totally out of         »» continued on page 16

                                                                                                              NSWSESVA.ORG.AU        15
SALVATION ARMY KOKODA TREK

     »» continued from page 15                   recover but still we had to unpack and      difficult mental and physical challenges
                                                 take out what we needed for the night       that we face in life, and by taking
     your hand take it, I will pull you up and   to sleep out, cleaned our boots, refilled   small steps with determination; these
     balance you”.                               water bottles, sterilised the water and     are the true ways of getting out of
         We had no sense of time or how          cleaned ourselves. Not to mention,          any situation.
     long it took us to climb “The Wall” but     cleaning and managing the blisters.             Apart from trekking ninety-six
     as we reached to the top we turned          When we had an opportunity to clean         kilometres, approximately a total 6,000
     around and looked down. We looked           ourselves, we used water from a river       metres of climbing and cutting across
     at each other, and there was a sign         nearby or a village communal tap or         razor edged ridges over steep towering
     of relief in everyone’s faces, we just      rain water coming off the corrugated        mountains. Kokoda wild landscape
     accomplished the most challenging           roof. These needed to be done before        with its rugged paths through the
     climb of the whole trek. Everyone           darkness sets in.                           rainforest jungle, spectacular scenery
     was going through so much mental                After we reached Kokoda, a few          and towering trees entwined through
     and physical endurance, every muscle        of the porters came up to me and            mountain streams of vine and logs,
     in our bodies being used, tested and        said, “We were very concerned about         the translucent water tumbles its
     stretched to an upmost breaking             you”, I asked why? The porters replied:     way down into the steep valleys is
     point, and we quickly learned that our      “We thought you wouldn’t make it            remarkably beautiful.
     feet were the most important part of        through the trek because you were               Lest We Forget
     our body for this trek. The sense of        struggling so much but you did it!              I would like to pay my respects to
     achievement that I felt for every step      Congratulations, you are a strong           our diggers, past, present and all our
     I took, it was indescribable feeling.       man”. I replied, “Thank you but I did it    service men and women today that
     Going up and down hills and valleys         because of John, my porter and all the      sacrifice their lives for our country. I
     and yet I had accomplished this difficult   porters that helped all the way”. Also,     would also like to say a big thank you to
     climb. For sure, it totally took me out     what got me through Kokoda journey          The NSW SES Volunteers Association
     of my comfort zone; it was a fulfilling     was my pride and the encouragement          for making this possible.
     emotional challenge that I had never        from my team leader Kathy, great                The total raised from the group was
     felt in my life.                            mates in the group and my porter John       $160,000, which was donated to the
         There were three hours left of          who said to me on day two, “We will do      Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.
     trekking before we could reach the          this together! “A true Fuzzy Wuzzy.
     next campsite. Reaching the campsite            I guess Kokoda brings out your true     By Joseph Bekhore
     was a blessing, we could relax and          character and ability to adapt during       April 2017 Owers Corner to Kokoda

16   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
EXERCISE TAIL WIND

Exercise Tail Wind
T
       he Aviation Operations Team
       (AOT) ,completed PD workshops
       and Exercise Tailwind this
weekend at Albion Park Airport.
    The workshop included sessions
on the use of BEACON within Air
Operations, presentations from
the RFS State Air Desk (SAD), as
well as Operational Capability
overviews on current and future State
Air Operations.
    The AOT then moved into exercise
Tailwind which required the teams to
establish (3) independent Airbases in
(3) Regions and prioritise tasking whilst
working with air crew and maintaining
Air communications with the Airframe.
    Capability is currently reviewing
the structure of the Air Operations
Team (AOT), with the view of
enhancing this Capability in support of
future Operations.

By Robbie Landon

                                                 NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   17
CDG UPDATE

     Updates from the
                                  Capability
     Tsunami Operations
     EXERCISES CONTINUE!                                                                Bombora is only the second
     Following the successful Puysegur                                              tsunami exercise to be conducted by
     Surge Exercise last year at Manly, the                                         the TOCDG, and more are planned…
     Tsunami CDG (TOCDG) is conducting                                              two annually, one being recurrent on
     an evacuation exercise ‘Bombora’ at                                            November 5 each year to mark World
     Ballina on June 24. This important work                                        Tsunami Day.
     is being led by the RTR Ballina Unit,                                              How is your Unit placed to meet the
     and is a deliverable of the TOCDG’s                                            threat of tsunami, or support those Units
     Business Plan. Its outcomes will help                                          that have communities in the evacuation
     inform the new Tsunami Awareness                                               footprint?
     Package that is being developed for
     release later this year.                                                       WANT TO KNOW MORE?
         The TOCDG is made up of dedicated     HOW ARE THEY DOING THIS?             For information, go to
     volunteers and supporting staff who       The TOCDG has a Business Plan that    http://www.tsunamisafe.com.au/
     represent each coastal region, as well    outlines its deliverables, namely    or contact the Chair or Co-ordinator of
     as a representative for all Western       awareness through the development    the TOCDG via email on
     Regions. Their charter is simple: as      of a Tsunami Awareness Package       Capability@ses.nsw.gov.au
     one of the three core combat roles        for all members, the refinement
     of the NSW State Emergency Service,       of evacuation products and local
     to build and further develop our          arrangement plan templates,
     tsunami awareness, preparedness and       and of course exercising those
     operational response capability.          local arrangements.                  By David Bowing

18   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
CDG UPDATE

Development
Group
Flood Operations
G
         ’day from the newly reformed     »» NSW SES branded kit bags for
         and renamed Flood - Operations      L3 operators.
         and Rescue Capability            »» A Light Flood Rescue response
Development Board or F-ORCDB for             vehicle for evaluation.
short! Over the years you may have        »» Continual expansion of the number
seen some of the work that has come          of Ark Angel rafts
out of the previous FOCDB, such as        »» Developing a deployable Flood
the introduction of the Ark Angel            Rescue cache to be accessed as
rafts, Flood Rescue Helmets and PFD’s,       required across the state.
Bowloader Punts and much more.            »» Headlamps for L3 operators
    At the start of May, the CDG met         (Headlamps for Yellow boat
together for the first time over two         helmets to follow)
days to for the creation of a 2 year      The group is also undertaking some        »» A proposal to trial high clearance
Business Plan of deliverables that        more medium term projects including           flood response vehicles.
ensures the Board work towards            but not limited to;                           In what will be a new season for
the Commissioner’s priorities of          »» A policy for conduct of Flood Rescue   the NSW SES in the Flood space, we
Operational Capability and Training,         Operations at different levels         remain committed to conducting
both of which support Recruitment         »» Updated Training and Education         flood operations and rescues as a
and Retention. The Group is extremely        packages for new and                   professional and responsible agency,
excited to say that while some projects      existing operators                     providing for our members the most
are just kicking off, we are already      »» Exciting new training grounds          appropriate equipment and training in
starting to pull together some key           across the state                       accordance with our combat role.
initiatives coming shortly such as:       »» A subcommittee review of                   If you have any feedback or
»» Delivery of hundreds of yellow            requirements for new flood vessels     questions please feel free to contact
    Swift Water helmets with NSW SES      »» Intent to trial a high-clearance       the F-OR CDG Chair or Co-ordinators
    markings to be issued to vessels.        concept vehicle to examine             on capability@ses.nsw.gov.au
»» The construction and issue of             applicability and suitability in NSW
    inflatable hose kits                     flood response operations.
»» Roll out of Reach and Rescue           »» Consideration and review
    poles to enhance L1 Flood                of dry suits for cold
    Rescue Operations                        weather environments.                  By David Bowing

                                                                                                       NSWSESVA.ORG.AU      19
NSW POLICE EQUESTRIAN GAMES

NSW State Emergency Service
Volunteers Compete in NSW
Police Equestrian Games

Kaliya on Billy.                                                 Ben on Chance.

Angela on Arrow.                                                 Melanie on Twista.

T
       he NSW Police Equestrian Games          The events held on Saturday             Ben also got a silver in barrel racing.
       were held on 29th & 30th of         consisted of Showjumping, Dressage          I came away with a Gold medal in the
       April at Hawkesbury riding club     and Combined Training (both), with          Combined Training, which came from
grounds. The weather was perfect           the show hack classes and sporting          winning a gold in both my Dressage
which was great as the event was           events on Sunday. For those who don’t       and Showjumping class.
postponed in March due to excessive        understand the events, Dressage                 Now, many people think riding a
rain. The event is open to members of      is precise movements at marked              horse is easy. However many people
police and emergency services in NSW       spots in an arena. Showjumping is           have never had to control a 600kg
and their families. I Kaliya Maxwell,      jumping over a number of coloured           animal that has its own mind, with
my husband Ben from Hunter Region,         jumps and normally against the clock        just your legs, seat and fingers. It’s
Angela Chapman from Southern               (timed). Sporting is riding as fast as      not an easy task and you have to be
Highlands Region and her sister            you can whilst steering your horse          able to understand and work with the
Melanie Antram represented NSW SES         around obstacles such as barrels or         horse that needs to respond to your
as a team. It was an amazing event,        weaving around a row of vertical            commands, so we need to give half
with 50 competitors from the RFS,          poles (bending). Show hack classes          the credit to our horses Billy (mine),
Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance and     are judged on the rider’s riding ability,   Chance (Ben’s), Twista (Melanie’s) and
the four of us from NSW SES. The event     posture and ability of the horse to         Arrow (Angela’s).
had a really friendly atmosphere and       move in a nice flowing level stride.            We would like to say a huge thank
we met lots of great people who made           Our team competed in all the            you to our NRMA who sponsored our
you feel really comfortable, no matter     events and came away with a hoard           team, we were looking very flash in our
what level you ride at.                    of medals including three 4th places,       new saddle cloths and brow bands! We
    We arrived on the Friday afternoon     four 5th places and four 6th places.        had a fantastic time and can’t wait for
to help the organisers set up and set up   Both Ben and Melanie got a bronze           the next one!
our horse float as that was going to be    medal in their respective rider classes,
our sleeping quarters for the next two     Melanie and I received a silver medal
nights (all good fun).                     in our respective rider classes and         By Kaliya Maxwell

                                                                                                           NSWSESVA.ORG.AU       21
THE TAIL END OF DEBBIE

     The Tail End
     of Debbie

22   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
THE TAIL END OF DEBBIE

Lismore Shopping Square.

Browns Street Carpark, Lismore.

                                           NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   23
THE TAIL END OF DEBBIE

     Keen Street, Lismore.

24   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
THE TAIL END OF DEBBIE

         NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   25
2017 Volunteers
Association Grants
are Opening Soon!

                                                          Times are a-changing for the funding schemes for
                                                                     the Volunteers Association.

                                                         Previously, our funding schemes were only offered once a year,
                                                         and feedback from members was that if they found out about
                                                         potential development opportunities after the schemes had
                                                         closed, then the member would miss out.

                                                         The new process means that ANY requests for funding
                                                         assistance must come through our online form at
                                                         www.nswsesva.org.au and then be processed through the Grants
                                                         Committee whose members will meet four times a each year.

                                                         We will be launching the new Grants Schemes from July 1st, 2017
                                                         and will be publishing the dates for the committee meetings so
                                                         you have plenty of time to get your applications in!

A full rundown of how the process will work will be available on our website shortly!
www.nswsesva.org.au
NEW SHQ BUILDING IN WOLLONGONG

   A Glimpse of the New SHQ Building
   Located in Burelli Street Wollongong
NSW SES Corner of Auburn and Burelli St.

                                           Front Entrance Cnr Burelli and Atchison St.

                                                                                               NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   27
HELICOPER FLOOD OPERATIONS

     SES — RFS Training
     in Helicopter Flood
     Operations
     L
           2 and L3 flood rescue operators     for a number of winching sequences.          from the wire and entering the water.
           from around the State assisted          On the first day of training, Minister   Very quickly an SES IRB was on the
           NSW RFS Down the Wire (DTW)         for Emergency Service, Troy Grant,           scene to rescue both the DTW and
     operators in three days of hoisting       also joined our L3s in the water and         his victim; and returning them both
     (winching) from the water at the          was winched to safety by one of the          to shore.
     Penrith Lakes (next to the Penrith        RFS DTWs.                                        Further joint training sessions are
     Whitewater Centre).                           Each day our L2 flood rescue             being planned around the State in
         Each day our L3s and DTWs were        operators provided logistics support         coming months.
     briefed on aircraft safety and winching   moving L3s into the water and providing
     operations. The DTWs then escorted        a safety and rescue capability.
     the L3s onto and off the hovering             Each of the RFS DTWs lifted
     helicopter (hover entry and exit          three SES L3s from the water before
     techniques) before hitting the water      undertaking an emergency release             By David King

28   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
HELICOPTER FLOOD OPERATIONS

               NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   29
EXERCISE STAR

     Exercise Star
     O
              n Saturday 27th May
              volunteers from Sydney
              Southern, Sydney Northern
     and Illawarra South Coast regions
     participated in Exercise STAR (Search
     Training and Rescue). The aim of
     the exercise is to practice, evaluate
     and refine training and operational
     procedures for Land Search operations.
         Exercise STAR 2017 was held in
     the National Parks and surrounding
     bushlands in the vicinity of the
     Sutherland Shire for SES to practice
     the emergency procedures that
     would be needed in the event of a
     search operation being conducted in
     that area.

30   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
EXERCISE STAR

    The exercise started with an              The second exercise held after           All members involved enjoyed
evidence search for a bank robbery.       lunch was for 6 missing persons’          themselves and learnt form
The teams were looking for toy guns,      in separate locations. The teams          the experiences.
money and bullet shell casings, through   conducted searches, were required to
thick bushland and needed to use          administer first aid and then stretcher
different type of search techniques.      the injured persons out.                  By Matthew Kirby

                                                                                                       NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   31
EMERGENCY SERVICES BLOOD CHALLENGE

     Saving Lives is in Our Blood
     THE EMERGENCY SERVICES BLOOD CHALLENGE IS ON AGAIN!
     1 JUNE – 31 AUGUST

     N
             SW State Emergency Service          are at their lowest. This is due to
             (NSW SES) members are again         regular donors having the cold or flu
             competing against other             and therefore being unable to donate
     emergency service organisations by          until they have recovered.
     state and by service to give the most           NSW SES members will join staff
     blood donations during the Emergency        and volunteers from many emergency
     Services Blood Challenge 2017 which         service organisations with the aim of
     was launched on 1st June.                   collectively making 8,500 donations
         NSW SES Commissioner, Mark              during the Challenge.
     Smethurst kicked off the challenge              NSW SES volunteers are always
     yesterday at the launch by joining          ready to help - be it floods, storms,
     representatives from other emergency        rescues, or searches for lost and
     services within NSW by donating his         missing people, so giving blood is just
     blood to help save lives!                   another way in which our members
         Joining the Commissioners was a         support the local community.
     44year-old father of two and a motor            Follow NSW SES’s progress
     accident survivor Andy White ,who           throughout the Challenge on
     owes his life to emergency services         the Australian Red Cross Blood
     and 12 generous blood donors after an       Service website:
     accident in November 2014.                  http://www.donateblood.com.au/nes
         The Campaign is a three-month               Remember, you can donate at any
     challenge that sees emergency               time – to make an appointment to give
     services members compete to see who         blood at your nearest Australian Red
     can secure the most blood supplies          Cross Blood Service donor centre, call
     over winter.                                13 14 95 or book online or visit.
         Winter tends to be a difficult period
     for the Red Cross as blood donations        Photos by Victoria Platts

32   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
EMERGENCY SERVICES BLOOD CHALLENGE

           Andy with Paddy.

                              NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   33
SYDNEY WESTERN RESCUE COMPETITION

     Sydney Western Rescue Competition

     Team shot of Auburn.

     O
              n Saturday 27th May, 2017        handling, mass casualty, confined space        Thanks also to Greg Newton and
              over 150 members were            and of course, leadership. Throughout      Mark Smethurst for their support on
              incarcerated at Parramatta       the day almost every team held the         the day. To the judges and support
     Gaol for the Sydney Western Region        #1 spot at some stage in what was          personnel from Sydney Northern,
     Rescue Competition. The scenario was      an extremely close competition. At         Sydney Southern, Ambulance NSW,
     simple, the Sydney Basin had been         the end of the day, less than 6 points     St John Ambulance and Fire & Rescue
     heavily affected by an earthquake at      separated 1st and 2nd place, with 3rd      NSW, thank you very much for
     Lapstone in the Blue Mountains and 7      less than 20 points from 1st. Teams        supporting the event. The day would
     teams comprising Taskforce Zulu were      exhibited fantastic team work, skill       not have been possible or the success it
     responded to the Parramatta North         levels and spirit throughout the event,    was without your support.
     Urban Transformation Precinct to deal     demonstrating without doubt the                By the end of competition, the
     with whatever they encountered.           fantastic operational capability SWR       encouragement award went to Holroyd
         The early morning start soon gave     Units have across a wide skill base.       for their outstanding performance
     way to the competition proper which           A massive thank you goes out           and enthusiasm, and the well-
     included teams representing Auburn,       to all those involved in running the       deserved winner’s trophy to Auburn,
     Blue Mountains/Penrith, Canada Bay/       event, from the IMT to judges, to          closely followed by Canada Bay, and
     Burwood, Hawkesbury, Holroyd,             stand crews and casualties, to the         Parramatta.
     Parramatta and Strathfield/Auburn.        amazing cassim team who prepped                A great day and we get to do it all
     Several combined teams.                   and maintained the 30-odd casualties.      again in two year’s time.
         Teams faced a range of challenges     Our cast of walking dead included
     testing their skills in heavy lift and    extensive burns, lacerations, abrasions,
     stabilisation, search, USAR, casualty     disembowelments, impalements,
     handling, first aid, crime scene          and other assorted gore, adding an         By Brad Dousha
     preservation, rescue from heights, tool   unpleasantly real element to the stands.   Photos by Damian Hofman

34   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
SYDNEY WESTERN RESCUE COMPETITION

Group Shot.

Trophy presentation Auburn Team 1st place.

Rescuer tending to “burnt” casualties.

                                                                  NSWSESVA.ORG.AU   35
SYDNEY WESTERN RESCUE COMPETITION

     Gear dump and team briefing area inside the gaol recreation area.   Hawkesbury Team working to release a casualty in water tank.

     Auburn / Strathfield combo team in the water tank stand.            Rescuer directing a walking wounded casualty to the triage area.

36   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
RESCUEXPERIENCE

RescuExperience

N
         SW rescue agencies came
         together for two days to
         explore and share the latest
road crash rescue techniques. Four
members of SES GLR units and
two of our new Operation Training
Support Officers participated in a
number of interactive events at the
“RescuExperience” hosted by FRSA &
Holmatro at the Fire and Rescue NSW
Ingleburn facility.
    The hands on sessions included
cross ramming and incline cutting;
advanced cutting techniques and
vehicle relocation.
    An interesting demonstration was
provided of the “Norwegian Rapid
Extrication Technique”. Adjustable
chains were strategically placed
around the A and C pillars; with the
A pillar chains connected to a winch
and the C pillar chains connected to an
immovable object, say a fire truck or     along the top and the adjoining             The car slowly opened up
other rescue truck.                       A-pillars cut. The gussets at the base   providing quick and full access to the
    The front chains then were            of each A-pillars were then cut prior    entrapped patients.
tensioned using the vehicle mounted       to slowly applying tension to the
winch. The laminated glass was cut        front chains.                            By David King

                                                                                                       NSWSESVA.ORG.AU      37
NORTHERN RIVERS FLOODS

     Northern Rivers Floods —
     An SES Community
     Liaison Officer’s
     Perspective
     W
                 hen the call came out for
                 SES CLO’s for immediate
                 deployment to the Northern
     Rivers floods it was a no-brainer that
     I should go. Having been previously
     deployed as Media Officer to
     Richmond, Tweed for another flood
     event I thought this sounded like an
     interesting new challenge — and so
     quick-smart I was off to Ballina for a
     seven day deployment.
         Arriving I was given a motel room
     for one night — and immediately
     pondered on whether my stay would
     be extended or was I bound for a
     camp bed and sleeping bag in the
     remarkably luxurious air-conditioned
     RFS Tent-City being constructed nearby
     in record time. Then with other CLO’s
     I was whisked off to Regional HQ for
     a briefing.
         “I hope you have all packed your
     Kevlar vests” we were told light-
     heartedly on arrival “Cos we are            helicopter ride! Shortly afterwards that   as a grey nomad — another lady was
     sending you CLO’s into some hot spots       bubble burst “A slight change of plan      so happy to have found her son a
     where we have heard there have been         — you are off to Lismore by minibus”.      suit amongst the donated clothes
     rumblings of discontent — and you           And so it was that an hour later (you’ve   that he could wear when appearing
     may be marked men and women with            guessed it) we were driving by minibus     as a witness in an upcoming court
     targets on your back. You will operate      to Murwillumbah.                           matter, but then was not sure whether
     in teams and should have a buddy with           We visited the evacuation centre       her copies of the Court documents
     you at all times”. Knowing that we were     in the church hall — piles of clothes,     had survived.
     to be targets I quickly assured our team    tables of donated kitchen, bathroom            Then we drove over the bridge
     leader that if the bullets started flying   and cosmetic stuff, mattresses lined       to the total devastation of South
     the whole of our team would be right        up on the floor, a variety of food set     Murwillumbah — with the houses,
     behind her!                                 out on the dining table, hot soup in an    roads and businesses just a sea of mud;
         Then the exciting bit for our team      urn, and red cross volunteers working      and piles of debris mounting on the
     of four (self-designated the “A-Team”)      hard at reception and in the kitchen.      kerb sides. Our plan was to hand out
     “For your first task we are deploying       I sat with a few of the evacuees and       information — but in reality it was too
     your team by chopper to a hot spot          listened to their stories. One lady had    early for this community — they would
     in Murwillumbah”.                           finally settled down and bought a          be expecting us to help by providing
         Whoopee I thought — at the age          property just outside of Murwillumbah      manual labour cleaning-up, and
     of 68 this was to be my first ever          three months ago after sixteen years       anything less would be meaningless.

38   THE VOLUNTEER | JUNE 2017
NORTHERN RIVERS FLOODS

CLO’s having dinner.                                              Jodie Ulin.

    So instead we drove back over the        rain my wallet got soaked — causing        heights, peculiarities about this flood
bridge and ate lunch at Murwillumbah         the ink to run on my taxi receipt!         event, timings of flood warnings and
RSL adjacent to the river and its levee.     Claiming back the cash was going to be     evacuation orders, and any suggestions
The bistro had a restricted menu of          problematic I thought — but SWR BSO        as to how things could have been done
roast beef with veggies, roast chicken       easily sorted that out.                    differently. It was an opportunity for
with veggies, or a choice of four pizza          Two days later and I’m again sharing   some to give constructive feedback,
toppings. The town was still under an        a ride with a chaplain and other team      for others to simply thank us, and
evacuation order but there were quite        members — and what idiot ever said         for a small minority to vent their
a few locals eating — and I chatted          that lightening never strikes the          anger and frustration — the “Kevlar
to some who were curious about my            same place twice! Returning from           vests” brigade.
“Canada Bay” name tag and pleasantly         Tumbulgum we come across a man                  We visited caravan park folk who
surprised when I told them we had            lying bleeding on the left side of the     had temporarily relocated from a
travelled in from various parts of NSW       road, and a two car pile — up on the       caravan park to the undercover parking
and had even brought in a team of            right side of the road — complete with     area beneath the Regional Art Gallery.
CLO’s from South Australia to help.          a head size hole in one windscreen.        Most had lost everything. We heard
    Disasters by their very nature breed     We were in a hired minibus with no         that one park resident had lost his
planning on the run — and if you get         first aid kit, but we did have two SES     life in the flood, and another had lost
fixated on expecting things to go            volunteers with nursing and paramedic      his false nose (constructed for him
smoothly then it’s best not to volunteer     experience. So out we pile, and start      after cancer surgery). During this visit
for disaster deployments. If you can go      directing traffic and dealing with         I also met my first ever “freak” — a
with the flow (pun intended) then you        the patient.                               caravan park resident whose career
will be an asset to the cause. If not then       Nothing straightforward about this     had included being the caged freak in
you just become part of the problem.         case — the bleeding man had nothing to     a travelling road show! Like the others
    Expect the unexpected — like             do with the car accident — he was on his   he just wanted to chat at some length
leaving RHQ in a hire car being driven       way to a hospital appointment, stopped     about his life and flood experiences
by a chaplain with a peer support            his car, got out and then tripped over     — he had a mattress, a sleeping bag,
person in the back seat. What could          some loose wire on the road cracking       and the clothes that he stood up in —
be safer I asked myself — even if it         his head on the pavement. On the           everything else was gone — but hey
was raining lions and wolves — until a       opposite side of the road the drivers of   — there were others worse off than
four-wheel drive rear ended us, having       the two crashed cars appeared to have      him – at least he was still alive and was
been itself rear ended at high speed         disappeared after the accident — one       getting fed — and a news crew in a
by a small sedan that in turn was then       having been seen by locals to run to a     chopper had even dropped off some
clipped by a marked SES vehicle.             van that stopped, jump in and then the     grog to lift their spirits (pun intended).
    Two vehicles required the tow            van took off.                                   What was most interesting for
truck while the female driver of the             Anyway — back to why we were           me was the challenge of responding
small sedan required ambulance               really there — CLO duties. Our role        to the very occasional criticism. One
transportation. Our hire car was still       was to go into the flood affected          lady asked me why the SES did not
drivable — only its’ rear-end being          areas; meet locals who were cleaning       work closely with Council to find an
completely cactus! The major problem         up, talk with them and provide each        area of higher ground near the town
for me — other than possible whiplash        with a post-flood recovery information     where vehicles could be moved when
— was that while directing the traffic       booklet. It was also requested that we
around the crash site in the pouring         gather Intel wherever possible: flood      »» continued on page 40

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