Marine Rescue NSW volunteers and staff have continued to deploy to inland New South Wales over the past few weeks in support to the NSW State Emergency Service as part of the ongoing response to flooding in the State’s inland.
To date 87 volunteers and staff have deployed, with 7 volunteers undertaking two tours of duty. Deployments are expected to continue into the new year.
The volunteers have come from every Marine Rescue NSW Region, with representation from 26 of the Service’s 45 units. The unit providing the greatest number of volunteers has been Port Macquarie with 20, followed by Middle Harbour (8), Batemans Bay (7), Tuross Moruya (6), and Shoalhaven, Port Jackson and Cottage Point with four each.
Other units who have contributed include Ulladulla, Broken Bay, Merimbula, Botany Port Hacking, Hawkesbury, Eden, Evans Head, Sussex Inlet, Forster Tuncurry, Shellharbour, Narooma, Tuggerah Lakes, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Brunswick and Norah Head.
Recent deployments have focused on the Edward River near Deniliquin, where members of Marine Rescue NSW have worked alongside visiting Singapore Civil Defence Force flood rescue specialists as well as members of the NSW SES, Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Police. Additionally, members have been active in the towns of Brewarrina and Bourke on the Barwon and Darling Rivers.
Members of Marine Rescue NSW continue to undertake a diverse range of tasks including the resupply of isolated properties, the transport of residents from isolated Aboriginal and other small communities as well as rural property owners, transport of sandbags, sandbagging, reconnaissance and relocation of livestock including dogs, cats, pet birds, sheep, poultry and goats.
In one heart-warming story, volunteers from Marine Rescue Shoalhaven Lynne Hocking and Mike Boadle helped in the relocation of 93 year old Shirley from her isolated home on the Edwards River. Water had crept within a metre of the home, prompting Shirley to be taken by car to a Marine Rescue boat where she was transported along the flooded river to another waiting car where she could be taken to temporary respite care.
Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Stacey Tannos thanked the volunteers for their hard work in helping communities affected by the State’s worst inland flooding in a generation.
“The commitment and dedication of our Marine Rescue NSW is winning high praise from all who meet them.”
“My sincere thanks to all members and staff who have given up their time to head out on deployment and provide help and comfort to those so badly affected by these devastating floods.”
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