2 minute read
Delivering in a disaster
Editorial and photography: Jesse Wray-McCann
As fires ravaged regions in Victoria’s east and north east, dozens of communities that were threatened, destroyed or isolated were crying out for help.
Victoria Police answered the call, mobilising en masse by land, air and sea to join other emergency services and authorities in responding to the fire crisis that gripped the state in late December and January.
The sheer magnitude of the fires in East Gippsland and north east Victoria meant the police response was one of the biggest for any event in the state’s history.
It was the first time the State Government declared a state of disaster, giving authorities powers and resources to compel people to evacuate from at-risk areas.
Thousands of police – both from Eastern Region and other areas across the state – worked long and hard hours for weeks.
As well as evacuating towns and communities, Victoria Police officers and personnel managed road blocks, delivered food and water supplies, searched for missing persons, escorted hay delivery convoys, conducted welfare checks and more.
Ldg Sen Const Baden Ball and Const Alice survey the destruction near the East Gippsland town of Buchan.
But they also regularly went above and beyond what was expected.
At Corryong near Victoria’s north-eastern border, Critical Incident Response Team officers helped struggling farmers by rebuilding fences destroyed by fire.
After finishing long shifts each day, officers lodging at Upper Murray Cottages in Walwa would ask the owners Robyn and Brian Caldwell how they might help around the property.
“They gave our garden the once over, pruning the roses and doing the weeds, and also helped put away our firefighting hoses and gear, because we weren’t going to be able to get to it any time soon,” Mrs Caldwell said.
State Emergencies and Support Command Assistant Commissioner Mick Grainger oversaw the coordination role to get police into fireaffected areas.
He said the biggest challenge of the crisis was evacuating communities under threat or isolated by fire.
“The fact that we saw police called to action and respond in such an amazing fashion in complex circumstances was really gratifying and testimony to their professionalism and focus on delivering community safety,” AC Grainger said.
The fire-affected road leading into the small town of Buchan, which was one of the worst hit communities in East Gippsland.
Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said the “enormous” response demonstrated Victoria Police at its best.
“I’ve been inspired by the way people have worked under really arduous conditions, over really long hours and they’ve done some extraordinary things,” AC Weir said.
“We’ve had to put people in positions and conditions where, ideally, we wouldn’t do that.
“Yet everyone has really risen to the occasion.”
AC Weir said Victoria Police’s relationship with the community has never been stronger.
“There have been a lot of homes lost, there have been a lot of stock losses, a lot of infrastructure losses and we’ve had Victorians killed in these fires,” he said.
“It gives me great confidence that, whatever the emergency we face, we will all be able to get through it together.”
