Kalbarri SES January 2021 report:
VALE: Dan Neil
It is with utmost sadness that we have to report the lost of long term Kalbarri SES volunteer Dan Neil. Dan was a stalwart of Kalbarri SES having served faithfully for over 16 years. He will be sadly missed and our condolences go to Dan’s family and friends. As well as answering the call to hundreds of callouts during his time with our unit, Dan was our flood boat skipper and also managed the maintenance of the vehicles and boats. He was highly qualified in all aspects of SES response. Dan will be sorely missed by all at Kalbarri SES and will live on in our hearts and minds forever.
Operations:
Kalbarri SES recorded one operational incident for January.
Land Search at Mount Magnet:
On Saturday January 2nd Kalbarri SES received a call to assist with a land search at Mount Magnet. A motorist had crashed his vehicle and disappeared from the scene and concerns were held for his safety.
6 Kalbarri volunteers loaded up 2 vehicles and a trailer with communications and land search equipment and departed Kalbarri arriving at Mount Magnet at 8.30 that night. They slept and then had a 5.00 a.m. start. After developing a search plan and tactics they left Mount Magnet for the search location. En-route they were informed that the missing person had been located safe and well. The crews returned to Kalbarri arriving home around midday on Sunday.
Community Involvement:
During the month Kalbarri SES volunteers have undertaken several rubbish collection patrols in local bushland and along the upper reaches of the estuary in an effort to keep Kalbarri looking clean.
Kalbarri SES were heavily involved in Kalbarri Australia Day celebrations. We were out early on Australia Day setting up a cordon for the nights pyrotechnics and then setting up tents and a recruiting display at the foreshore markets.
The following morning 9 SES volunteers attended the foreshore at 5.00 am in the dim light of dawn where the fireworks cordon was removed and all of the debris left behind from the display was removed by hand and disposed of. We then disassembled the events tent and removed it and the barbecue to leave the area spick and span.
The event went really well and we have had lots of positive feedback.
Training:
On Sunday January 17 we held flood boat training on the estuary with 2 boats practicing various drill including man overboard, rafting, casualty recovery and boat recoveries. The Unit will host regional flood boat training on February 6 & 7.
