General News
7 November, 2024
BREAKING NEWS Locals are the real heroes as minister acts on rescue award citation
FORGOTTEN heroes of the dramatic summer storm flood rescue in Wedderburn snubbed in awards by a Federal Government authority will now have their life-saving efforts recognised. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local...
FORGOTTEN heroes of the dramatic summer storm flood rescue in Wedderburn snubbed in awards by a Federal Government authority will now have their life-saving efforts recognised.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King has this morning commended the six locals who saved a man after his car was washed down Nardoo Creek on January 2.
Members of the State Emergency Service's Marong unit last month received a National Safety and Rescue Council award at a ceremony in Sydney, sparking community furore when the award citation only acknowledged SESr efforts in the rescue. The SES later confirmed its role in the dramatic operation had only been to throw out a rope to the man stranded in his vehicle.
Ms King's intervention came after a meeting at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday with Mallee MP Anne Webster.
The minister this morning said: “Following recent media reports of the Nardoo Creek rescue on 2 January, I’ve been made aware of the courageous action of a group of locals who were pivotal in this rescue.I commend them for their action, and I thank them for their bravery.
“The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has also advised me of their intention to acknowledge these brave members of the public who were essential to saving a life – a well-deserved recognition.”
The authority acts as secretariat for the National Safety and Rescue Council that put outits own statement two hours later fromcouncil chair Mark Morrrow, expected to be published on its website later today, also acknowledging the six Wedderburn people for their part in rescuing the man.
Mr Morrow said: "Australia has one of the largest search and rescue regions in the world. Our search and rescue response system is anetwork of collaborative relationships, and formal arrangements between professionals and volunteer organisations. What unites them all is a sense of community and a desire to help one another in times of need. It is this ethos that was embodied by all nominees and recipients of the 2024 Australian Search and Rescue Awards.
"As the Chair of the National Search and Rescue Council of Australia, I would like to further acknowledge the efforts of others who were not nominated for awards, but assisted in saving lives nonetheless. This included members of the local community during the Wedderburn floods, who we have heard placed their own safety at risk to save the lives of others. Whenever disaster strikes in this country, it is without fail thatour communities come together to assist those at risk of harm. We would encourage these stories to be shared with the council in future years through nominations for the non-professional category of the awards, which recognises the contributions of ordinary people in these extraordinary moments.
I commend the brave community members who performed the rescue, and also commend the Loddon Herald for its persistence on this importance matter of principle –namely, appropriate recognition for those that contributed to saving lives
- Dr Anne Webster
Dr Webster said: "I commend the brave community members who performed the rescue, and also commend the Loddon Herald for its persistence on this importance matter of principle –namely, appropriate recognition for those that contributed to saving lives.
"I spoke with Minister King on Wednesday 6 November about this matter. I am pleased she has grasped the very valid point community members were making, and I hope consequently that appropriate recognition occurs.
As the SES unit award furore erupted last month, rescue witnesses say any honours should have gone to local police sergeant Ben Huisman and Andrew Roberts who were fitted with safety equipment and Matthew Tansley, Scott Cunningham and his 15-year-old son Will who held the rope.
Former Wedderburn SES volunteer Reg Holt stood on the banks of the surging creek the evening of the rescue and says the award to the SES. is an insult to locals.
“They were the ones who went in and saved a life ... the SES was standing on the sidelines, unable to make a decision without clearance from someone in an office in Bendigo or Melbourne,”
“The best they did was give the locals the rope to use. Continued pontification by the SES that night could have been deadly if not for the real heroes, the locals who acted before it was too late.”
The award citation differed with witness reports of the rescue, the SES saying recollections of the drama may vary.
The citation said: "The SES crew arrived at what was described as ‘a chaotic scene’. Conditions were dangerous - waters were flooding and fast flowing, there were dangerous conditions overhead, and the noise of the creek was deafening. minutes after arriving, the scene continued to escalate with an occupied vehicle being washed off the causeway and swept down the flooded creek. One SES member followed the vehicle on foot and others followed in the SES vehicles.Unfortunately, overhead assistance via helicopter was not possible due to the storm and lightning. Despite the fast-moving water, the SES crew acted swiftly to secure the vehicle. Noting the unpredictable nature of flood waters, the crew knew they only had one opportunity to attempt a rescue. A successful rescue was made just seconds before the vehicle was fullysubmerged and washed further down the creek.Although the rescue crew knew luck and good timing were factors in this rescue, the crew’s training, planning and ability to act quickly under ahigh stress environment enabled a successful rescue."
The SES later said its crew had been “integral in getting a rope” out to the man trapped in his vehicle.“We understand that the award issued to VICSES volunteers as part of the Australian Search and Rescue Awards has triggered a range of emotions and discussion in the local community.VICSES wants to acknowledge the significant role that several local members of the public also played in the rescue. We thank them for their response at a difficult and dangerous scene.The award-class in which our volunteers were nominated, was within the Professional Volunteer Award category for volunteers from a trained rescue organisation.The intervention of the SES land-based swift water rescue crew was integral in getting the rope to the individual and saving the man’s life.”