-
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Port Macquarie Unit has taken home silver medals from the National Disaster Rescue Challenge in Far North Queensland over the weekend.
-
Eight members from Port Macquarie Unit represented NSW at the national competition.
-
The competition saw hundreds of SES members from across the country put through their paces in eight different scenarios over two days, including mass casualty events.
Editor’s note: Photos of the NSW SES Port Macquarie team are available via hightail – https://spaces.hightail.com/space/5wtGyDqH7y
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Port Macquarie Unit has taken home silver medals from the National Disaster Rescue Challenge in Far North Queensland over the weekend.
Eight members from Port Macquarie Unit represented NSW at the national competition, which saw hundreds of SES members from across the country put through their paces in eight different scenarios over two days, including mass casualty events.
Leading the team to the podium, NSW SES Port Macquarie Hastings Member Michael Brumby said the scenarios were complex.
“We had to rescue multiple casualties from a party boat that had crashed on a lake, along with a hot air balloon crash in an open field,” Mr Brumby said.
“These are scenarios we will look to recreate in our training for our broader team back home, to broaden the depth of skill for everyone in our Unit.”
Mr Brumby said the Port Macquarie Hastings Unit has been busy responding to incidents and maintaining ongoing skill building of members in recent months.
"In our local community this year, we've responded to medical gain-entry jobs and patient lift-outs supporting NSW Ambulance, as well as several vertical rescues involving people exploring along the coast who needed assistance,” Mr Brumby said.
“Events like the Disaster Rescue Challenge are critical in ensuring our members are ready for the unpredictable situations they may face in the community.”
NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM said national exercises like the Disaster Rescue Challenge are a valuable opportunity for members to further enhance their capability.
“When our teams train and compete in events like this, they share best practice and learn how each agency works state-to-state, so we can work seamlessly together in the future,” Commissioner Wassing said.
NSW SES Port Macquarie Unit member Scott Witchard said the challenge gave the team a realistic environment to put their training into practice.
“We’re proud that we placed in the top three against the best teams across the country,” Mr Witchard said.
“It’s telling what our training has achieved and what we can take back to the Unit to keep performing at that level,” Mr Witchard said.
The National Disaster Rescue challenge is held biennially and has been running since 1988.
This year, teams from ACT SES, NSW SES, South Australia SES, Queensland SES, Tasmania SES, Victoria SES and Western Australia SES competed in the national challenge.
Contact details:
Media enquiries: NSW SES Media on 1800 067 234 or [email protected]
