More than 35 Marine Rescue Port Macquarie volunteers have been praised by Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Alex Barrell for their tireless efforts during the recent flood emergency that impacted the Port Macquarie region.
Over a five-day period, from Wednesday 21 May to Sunday 25 May, Marine Rescue Port Macquarie volunteers contributed a total of 626 hours to critical flood response operations, working closely with other emergency services to support the local community.
“It is a huge effort. Many of our volunteers were personally affected by the flood event, so to give their time to the community, put themselves second, and support the local members of their community was outstanding,” Commissioner Barrell said.
“As an agency, we have spent a lot of time over the past two years growing our capability and flood response through the development of our State Operations Group.
“It has really enhanced our capability to support the whole-of-government response to flood events. We have seen it in this recent event; we saw it with Tropical Cyclone Alfred. It is really wonderful to see how much we have grown as an agency, but also the effort that has gone into this from all of our volunteers,” he said.
The Marine Rescue Port Macquarie team had 15 flood rescue and support operators on the ground, supported by almost a dozen vessel crew members, nine radio operators, and four support volunteers.
The team was on call around the clock, conducting vital missions, and delivering food, water and fuel. They also assisted with other emergency responses, including a medical evacuation in Wauchope involving two individuals—one with a life-threatening condition—multiple medical evacuations from the North Shore, the rescue of a man and his pets near Telegraph Point, and logistical support.
Despite the Marine Rescue Port Macquarie vessel base being inundated and damaged by floodwaters, Unit Commander Greg Davies said operational capacity was maintained.
“Our radio operators played a key role at the Emergency Operations Centre, while support volunteers, including Lynn Morrissey and the Unit Padre, ensured volunteers were cared for—preparing meals and monitoring team welfare.
“I’m extremely proud of our unit. The discipline, morale, professionalism, and passion everyone showed was second to none. The ‘can-do’ attitude just shone through. No one said no or ‘we can’t do that’—everyone just worked out how to get the job done as safely and efficiently as possible.
“Every mission that we were tasked with, we completed and succeeded, and no lives were lost.”
Unit Commander Davies also acknowledged the vital behind-the-scenes contributions during the weather event:
“Everyone sees the boat crews out there, but it’s not just them. We had radio operators and watch officers putting in extra shifts, volunteers collecting supplies, support crew making sure everyone was fed and cared for—it was a real team effort. I’m proud of every single one of them,” he said.
Marine Rescue Port Macquarie continues to work alongside emergency services to support the recovery and remains committed to serving the community in times of crisis.
Commissioner Barrell also thanked the dedicated volunteers from the Tuggerah Lakes and Lemon Tree Passage units, who also assisted in Maitland and Singleton during the recent weather emergency.
“Their contribution is greatly appreciated by the Service and the communities they were deployed to assist.
“Our flood rescue and support operators across the state are highly trained and ready to answer the call whenever it comes,” Commissioner Barrell said.
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