SES in ‘International Rescue’ at Wyanbene - Braidwood Times

A group of students were rescued at Wyanbene by local SES crews last week. The group were from Capernwray Torchbearers Australia (Residential Christian Bible School in the Southern Highlands NSW. 

The 21 International students (late teens and young adults) and staff were on an outdoor recreation trip in the Deua National Park at a private property off Wyanbene Rd. The party arrived at the private property after a hike on the 7th April 2015. That night heavy rainfall occurred both in the local area and upstream of the Shoalhaven river crossing located on Wyanbene Road. As a result the river rose over the next day to a height of 1.5m above the causeway. The party was due to leave on Thursday (9th) morning, however local residents informed us that the river would still be too high for our bus and support vehicle to cross.

Three immediate issues were identified by the group leader. 

1) 8 of the students were flying to India as part of their school experience to volunteer in children's orphanages on Thursday afternoon and could not miss their flights.

2) The party would run out of food after Thursday morning.

3) 1 student was unwell and if condition became worse, some form of evacuation would be needed. (The student ended up being o.k.)

A decision was made by the group leader to call for assistance from the SES to see if some form of flood boat rescue could occur. As a result at 0800hrs on Thursday the 9th April, 15 students were evacuated across the river by local SES crews from Braidwood and Queanbeyan to an awaiting bus and other staff who had arrived from the school to pick them up. 6 staff and students remained at the property with the bus and gear and waited until the river subsided enough to cross. 

Thanks to the SES call centre and local crews who made the whole process happen smoothly and importantly, safely. The Team Leader was Daniel Johnston.

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