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Storm and Flood Assistance
When the Queensland State Emergency Service personnel in Toowoomba first laid eyes on the ACT Rural Fire Service volunteers, who had flown from Canberra to help clean up after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, they were a little sceptical.
After all, how much assistance could bushfire specialists realistically provide to a flood-affected area?
Fortunately, the answer was: plenty, and the ACTRFS volunteers quickly proved their value, by efficiently handling tasks such as cleaning out garages, removing sandbags, and washing out flooded basements.
Among them was Les, Captain of the Gungahlin Brigade.
"The team spirit was great,” he says.
“You never know what to expect going on a deployment, but the only certainty was that we were there to help people affected by a disaster.”
Now a 12-year-veteran of the territory’s bushfire service, Les’ initial journey to the ACTRFS started in his birth country of South Africa.
"I come from a policing background, so serving the community was always what I loved doing,” says Les.
“When I arrived in Australia, I was attracted to joining the ACTRFS, after learning about the bushfire problems here.
“Also, what little boy's dream isn't to become a firefighter? I'm living my six-year-old dream."
After all, how much assistance could bushfire specialists realistically provide to a flood-affected area?
Fortunately, the answer was: plenty, and the ACTRFS volunteers quickly proved their value, by efficiently handling tasks such as cleaning out garages, removing sandbags, and washing out flooded basements.
Among them was Les, Captain of the Gungahlin Brigade.
"The team spirit was great,” he says.
“You never know what to expect going on a deployment, but the only certainty was that we were there to help people affected by a disaster.”
Now a 12-year-veteran of the territory’s bushfire service, Les’ initial journey to the ACTRFS started in his birth country of South Africa.
"I come from a policing background, so serving the community was always what I loved doing,” says Les.
“When I arrived in Australia, I was attracted to joining the ACTRFS, after learning about the bushfire problems here.
“Also, what little boy's dream isn't to become a firefighter? I'm living my six-year-old dream."
This dream has led to Les travelling interstate on several deployments around the country, to assist disaster-affected communities.
He says finding the time to travel away and help interstate is made easier, thanks to the support he receives from his family and his employer.
“I’ve been married for more than 30 years, and my wife has accepted that I might disappear for a week at the drop of a hat.
“I’m also a public servant, and my agency is very supportive; they provide emergency services leave, which makes a huge difference."
The ACTRFS volunteers were determined to make the most of their time in Queensland’s flood-affected areas, and worked long hours over the first two days, quickly checking off the list of jobs that had been tasked to them by the QLDSES.
“They (the QLDSES) were over the moon with us,” remembers Les.
“I think they were surprised that we had finished all of our tasks in a day and a half.”
But Les and his colleagues didn’t sit on their laurels; determined to remain proactive, they sought out additional work on their third day of operations, including a memorable job where they provided assistance to a couple in their 80s.
“They were a really old couple whose house had been spared,” says Les, “but their garage had been totally flooded, and their whole garden was under water.
“They had been trying to clean up themselves and remove sandbags, but they clearly couldn’t.
“So, we hopped in there, and in two hours cleaned up their whole garage, their garden, emptied all of the sandbags, and did everything for them.
“They said they couldn’t find the words to express how appreciative they were, and it reminded me of how even a small act of kindness can leave a lasting impression."
Overall, Les was struck by the upbeat attitude of the community members he spent time with, who were in good spirits, despite the impact of the most recent weather emergency.
"People were saying: 'It wasn't as bad as the last time. We'll prepare for the next one.’”, says Les.
“They took it in their stride."
Les says the resilience of the community members that he spoke to was inspiring.
“The appreciation that we received from the community made it all worthwhile.”
“Despite the hardship and destruction that we saw, it was a memorable deployment, because we achieved something significant by working together."
He says finding the time to travel away and help interstate is made easier, thanks to the support he receives from his family and his employer.
“I’ve been married for more than 30 years, and my wife has accepted that I might disappear for a week at the drop of a hat.
“I’m also a public servant, and my agency is very supportive; they provide emergency services leave, which makes a huge difference."
The ACTRFS volunteers were determined to make the most of their time in Queensland’s flood-affected areas, and worked long hours over the first two days, quickly checking off the list of jobs that had been tasked to them by the QLDSES.
“They (the QLDSES) were over the moon with us,” remembers Les.
“I think they were surprised that we had finished all of our tasks in a day and a half.”
But Les and his colleagues didn’t sit on their laurels; determined to remain proactive, they sought out additional work on their third day of operations, including a memorable job where they provided assistance to a couple in their 80s.
“They were a really old couple whose house had been spared,” says Les, “but their garage had been totally flooded, and their whole garden was under water.
“They had been trying to clean up themselves and remove sandbags, but they clearly couldn’t.
“So, we hopped in there, and in two hours cleaned up their whole garage, their garden, emptied all of the sandbags, and did everything for them.
“They said they couldn’t find the words to express how appreciative they were, and it reminded me of how even a small act of kindness can leave a lasting impression."
Overall, Les was struck by the upbeat attitude of the community members he spent time with, who were in good spirits, despite the impact of the most recent weather emergency.
"People were saying: 'It wasn't as bad as the last time. We'll prepare for the next one.’”, says Les.
“They took it in their stride."
Les says the resilience of the community members that he spoke to was inspiring.
“The appreciation that we received from the community made it all worthwhile.”
“Despite the hardship and destruction that we saw, it was a memorable deployment, because we achieved something significant by working together."
