Mayor praises SES efforts following train accident
While many of us were still recovering from New Year’s Eve celebrations, SES volunteers from Tully, Mission Beach, Innisfail and Babinda were working selflessly at the scene of the Sunlander train crash on New Year’s Day.
Cassowary Coast Mayor, Bill Shannon, said the SES teams had sacrificed precious holiday time with their families to assist emergency services personnel dealing with the distressing aftermath of the accident which occurred late in the morning on New Year’s Day, when the Sunlander hit a garbage truck at a level crossing on Aerodrome Road at Mundoo.
The driver of the truck was killed and six of passengers on the train, which was carrying more than 120 people, required transport to Innisfail Base Hospital.
“The SES volunteers clocked up a total of 403 hours over two days, which is an outstanding effort” Cr. Shannon said.
“They assisted in a range of areas: providing catering for emergency services personnel and train passengers; placing tarps over damaged train carriages; manning road blocks; organising shelter on-site for the train passengers and helping to retrieve their luggage. They even helped ambulance officers ferry the passengers to the community hall.
“We also shouldn’t forget to acknowledge the sterling efforts of those Innisfail Lioness Club members who provided food to emergency workers and train passengers alike.”
Cr. Shannon said that the humanitarian efforts demonstrated by the SES teams and the Lioness members amply qualified them to bear the title of “community heroes”.
“How many of us would willingly put ourselves on the frontline at the scene of a disaster such as a train crash,” he asked.
“These volunteers are a priceless resource to our community.”