Summer storms can be especially brutal in Australia, and this year has been no exception. Communities all over the country have recently felt the wrath of nature, with many left homeless and stranded.
Armadale has been blessed with a relatively mild summer, but members of our community were there to lend a helping hand to those who weren’t so lucky.
In November last year, volunteers from Armadale SES assisted the Tom Price SES unit when a freak storm hit the town.
They spent three days up there helping remove trees from roofs, driveways, and vehicles, and fixing structural damage to roofs.
The SES volunteers were looked after extremely well by the local unit and the Shire of Ashburton. And last week Shire President Audra Smith and City of Armadale Deputy Mayor John Keogh called into the Armadale base during training to present a plaque in recognition of their selfless work in helping to restore the town.
Three weeks ago, Armadale members once again answered the call for help – this time from the Queensland Government – and flew to Townsville to assist with the floods in Ingham.
Volunteers from Armadale joined other Perth units to clean out houses that had been inundated.
After five days wading through the aftermath, the crew were packing up to return to Perth when they received another call to assist in the clean-up in Port Hedland after Cyclone Zelia hit.
Volunteers from the Armadale and Gosnells units were sent to a large station called De Gray, north of Port Hedland, which had been severely hit by the Category 4 Cyclone.
De Gray Station was cut off from everyone by severe flooding and fast flowing rivers, so the only means of getting in with equipment and food supplies was by helicopter.
Team members spent their days clearing trees and repairing roof damage.
After a busy storm season, the Armadale unit was just settling down for a bit of R and R last week when a microburst hit the Perth Hills.
So off they went to help clean up after violent winds carved up a path from Gidgegannup to Mundaring. 14 Armadale SES volunteers answered the call last Wednesday night followed by another seven members the next day. Members from Gosnells and other units also assisted.
“Thanks heaps to SES who helped cut a tree off our roof in Gidgegannup last night! Brilliant job, thank you,” Ian said.
“The SES always step up when we need them most,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said.
