Transport staff celebrated for helping during Narrandera flood evacuation

The Narrandera Aged Care Rescue Team, comprised of five maintenance and line marking crew members, was presented the team award, Connecting our customers’ whole lives, at the 2022 I’m Transport Awards.

The team gathered at the site last week for a small presentation.

When severe storms in the area put the Teloca House aged care facility at risk one weekend in February, the call went out for help to evacuate 40 residents and vital medical equipment from the building.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District Disaster Manager Denise Garner said evacuation of an aged care facility could be a logistical challenge.

“The aged care facility was well organised, however, once we had a way to get all residents evacuated to a safe location we needed to find a way to get their high care beds and mobility scooters out, too, and that’s when I reached out to Transport for NSW,” Ms Garner said.

“To have people answer their phones and be prepared to come in on a Sunday and help where needed made all the difference. We could not have done it without Transport’s help.

“I think it is fantastic for all involved to be recognised in this way.”

Ms Garner said the evacuation of elderly residents was always a last resort due to the risks involved.

“Evacuation of aged care facilities comes with an increased mortality rate, so it is never done unless absolutely necessary,” she said.

“In this case contaminated water was above the floor level and eventually over the power point level. 

“The flood damage meant the residents would not be returning for some time due to the repairs needed.”

Transport’s representative for the Riverina Murray Emergency Management Committee, Customer and Network Ops Coordinator Paul Billingham, organised the Sunday response team.

“It took just a few calls and two teams were on their way to provide relief to overwhelmed emergency services,” Mr Billingham said.

Transport for NSW maintenance Works Supervisor Robert Hyde and Linemarking Area Manager Michael Linsell rallied their team members, who grabbed a couple of trucks and made the almost 200km round trip from Wagga to Narrandera.

In his 26 years with Transport, Mr Hyde recalls a few times where he has been called to help following car accidents and fallen trees, but this was the first flood evacuation.

He organised for crew members Andrew Osmond, Chris Buchanan, Trent Whiteman and Tyson Wines to make the trip.

“The team just headed over to the nursing home to do whatever needed to be done,” Mr Hyde said.

“They mostly loaded the trucks with furniture such as special hospital beds and wheelchairs.

“It’s not an everyday thing for us, but we did whatever anyone else wouldn’t do.”

Mr Linsell said he didn’t hesitate to answer the call for help despite it being his day off.

“When Paul told me what was needed, I made a few calls and linemarker Warren Nancarrow headed straight out,” he said.

Mr Nancarrow said as well as getting him out of mowing the lawns at home, he was happy to do his part to help on the day.

“We were all happy to help and I know those at the nursing home were grateful for the assistance,” he said.

The I'm Transport Awards recognise Transport for NSW employees who've made an outstanding contribution and delivered great results in the past year, either individually or as part of a team.