Tindal walks on water
Air Force opens its doors to locals in need during Katherine floods

By Andrew Stackpool
Volume 48, No. 6, April 20, 2006

A bird’s-eye view to the south-west of Katherine shows the widespread flooding in the region.

A nursing officer comforts a Katherine patient at the Tindal medical centre.

Photos by SGT Mark Eaton

Base members assist with the evacuation effort.

Photos by SGT Mark Eaton

Base members assist with the evacuation effort.

Photos by SGT Mark Eaton

SAMARITANS from RAAF Base Tindal played a major role in assisting their neighbours during the recent Katherine floods.

The base turned out on April 5 and 6 to evacuate the needy and ill and provide logistic support as the waters of the Katherine River threatened to inundate the remote Northern Territory town.

WGCDR Peter Davis, Executive Officer 396 Combat Support Wing, said on April 5, the Katherine Region Counter-Disaster Committee calculated the river would rise above 18 metres and activated the town’s counter-disaster plan.

“Later that evening the committee advised us that the hospital would need to be evacuated and asked Tindal to help,” he said.

“Subsequently, overnight we evacuated 23 patients, including three babies and four relatives. More serious patients, including four pregnant women who were due to give birth were aero-medically evacuated to Darwin.

“Later, we evacuated 28 patients and 16 carers from the Rocky Ridge nursing home.”

While the evacuations were under way, personnel from 322CSS were recalled, as the rest of the base turned out on 12/12 shifts to prepare Tindal to receive extra personnel, including from the out-lying communities that were also impacted by the floodwaters; provide equipment to emergency shelters in town and provide transport support to ferry evacuees to Darwin from the civilian airport.

While this activity was underway, an extra load was placed on Tindal staff by the arrival of extra, non-evacuated persons seeking assistance.

Initially, the task of establishing and caring for the evacuated patients and nursing home residents fell to the Health Support Flight.

However, the arrival of extra medical staff from Katherine and personnel from 321CSS at RAAF Base Darwin meant the HSF personnel could focus on other activities.

WGCDR Davis said the primary focus turned to logistic support.

“We provided 700 sheets and blankets, 500 stretchers, four washing machines and 12 portable showers to Katherine and are laundering linen on base,” he said.

With many stores in Katherine flooded and an extra 80 personnel to cater for, Tindal also conducted an audit of basic food stocks.

Describing Tindal’s response as “phenomenal”, WGCDR Davis said base staff were very keen to get involved. “Our personnel are continuing to provide medical and logistical support and morale is still very high.

“This is a combined effort. We are continuing to work side-by-side with civilian agencies to ensure the necessary support goes to those in need.”

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