A Gazette article from 21 November 1990 is headed “Plea to Bushwalkers” and it’s not the only article like it from the summer of 1990-91. In this case, Mr Guy Flower, chief Rescue crew officer with NRMA CareFlight issued a plea for bushwalkers to walk safely this summer. The helicopter had carried out seven search and rescue missions in the past three months. One was at Berowra Heights, another at Govett’s Leap, and two teenagers were plucked from floodwaters at night near Richmond.
“Mr Flower was aboard when the helicopter located a party of 30 primary school children and four teachers recently lost in the Glenbrook National Park. They had taken a wrong track, but fortunately they had arranged a meeting time so when they failed to arrive the alarm was promptly raised”. Mr Flower said.
Police organised for the Bushfire Brigade, SES and Ambulance personnel to start combing bush tracks and at nightfall arranged for NRMA CareFlight Helicopter to assist. We spotted the party about five km from their rendezvous point and arranged for the ground party to guide them to safety.”
The previous week, 14 November 1990, a New Bush Safety Teachers Kit was released to 200 schools in western Syndey. Featuring the 1.5m tall Wanda R Wombat, it was developed in response to the high numbers of bush rescues performed in the Blue Mountains each year. Sgt Phil Turnbull of the Police Rescue Squad said
“Last year over 100 people were rescued at a cost of over $230,000 and thousands of hours of volunteer bushfire brigade members’ time”.
The kit contained a 10 minute, high quality video giving guidance, in a humorous mood, to all who venture into the wild beauty of national park and bushland areas. The were also bush safety bumper stickers, leaflets, posters and a workbook for years 3 to 6 specifically produced by teachers at the Longneck Lagoon Field Studies Centre.
Now it’s between 200 and 400 people being rescued every year. but no such warnings or training seems to be necessary. Maybe this is regarded as a small price to pay as it is only a small proportion of the 4-6 million visitors that come to the region. The NPWS Heritage Centre, Scenic World, and the Tourist Information Offices all refuse to sell “Mountains Mishaps” even though it sells well elsewhere. They would prefer that visitors remain ignorant of the risks and a relatively small number die, are injured or have to be rescued.
The picture shows the safety kit being launched at an environmental education conference in Granville, which was attended by Sgt Phil Turnbull and John Dengate from NPWS. The kit was developed by the BM Police Rescue Squad with help from NPWS, NSW Ambulance, Volunteer Bushfire Brigades, and the Department of School Education, Metropolitan West Office. There was also assistance from Channel 7, actor Shane Porteous, hotels and many other sponsors. The kits cost $35 each. 