After 46 consecutive days, the most significant support operation in the Service’s history has come to a close, with the flood situation having eased sufficiently for NSW SES to no longer require the support of Marine Rescue NSW.
Over the past 7 weeks an extraordinary 112 volunteers and 9 staff from 28 units provided practical, much needed support to flood affected communities across inland NSW. These included locations as diverse as Moama, Barham, Balranald, Deniliquin, Forbes, Brewarrina, Bourke and Walgett.
The Marine Rescue NSW response commenced back in mid-October, with the Service’s members responding to the call to assist with characteristic enthusiasm, with ten members going back for a second deployment.
Once on the ground, members soon found themselves dealing with a range of unfamiliar situations – transporting livestock (earning the affectionate nick-name of Merino Rescue NSW), ferrying isolated residents, resupplying cut-off properties, filling and laying sandbags and undertaking a wide range of liaison and logistical tasks.
Along the way there were many challenges faced, with long distances to travel, unfamiliar SES vessels to drive, submerged fences and snags, homeless snakes, as well as plenty of rain and mud!
The compensations however more than made up for any challenges – most particularly the warmth and gratitude of those helped, the chance to assist communities at their time of greatest need, the opportunity to learn new skills, and the chance to make new and enduring friendships.
Although the support of Marine Rescue NSW has concluded, the flooding continues in inland NSW, with the Service standing by to again assist should that be required.
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