DURING the horrific weekend of rains and floods, two men returned to the Scenic Rim to assist their fellow SES mates with flood rescue operations.
Flood Boat operator Adam Dorricott, who moved to Brisbane from Tamborine Mountain about 18 months ago to take up a job at Queensland Fire and Emergency Services head office, said he was glad he could make it to Beaudesert before the floods became too bad.
"On Saturday, I got a call from my deputy group leader on Tamborine Mountain," he said.
"The Scenic Rim has four flood boats and about a dozen members trained in flood boat operations, but there weren't many people available for Beaudesert."
Mr Dorricott said he and fellow flood boat operator Kevin Martin responded to the call.
"We rocked up around 5pm on Saturday and were on standby at the SES shed in Beaudesert.
"I brought camping gear and expected it was going to be a long and treacherous night."
A lucky decision
The expected floods did not eventuate on Saturday and Sunday morning didn't seem too ominous either, so the two men were considering going home.
"We had a call from a local controller who asked if we wouldn't mind staying another night ... there were no other water rescue resources in the Scenic Rim, so it was just our Tamborine crews and us."
Mr Dorricott said the first call-out was about 9.30pm on Sunday.
"We had a call to a family on Beaudesert Nerang Road at Tabragalba," he said.
"They evacuated themselves from their home, loaded up their car and managed to get to one of the high grounds on the road ... they were stranded there.
"We got down there, we put the boat in the water and we were in touch with them by phone.
"We collected them, some of their belongings and their dog and brought them back where one of our SES vehicles picked them up and took them to the Baptist Church evacuation centre."
Mr Dorricott said conditions became challenging as the rain set in and the second report of someone trapped in floodwaters near Mundoolun Connection Road. Still, there had been some difficulty finding his exact location.
"The rain was heavy. Visibility was probably under eight metres," he said.
"You're navigating around trees and the current there is suddenly coming at you from one direction, you go around a tree and then it's coming at you from a different direction and next thing you know, you're looking at a power pole. So it's very hard to get a map out and have a look at it while you're doing that.
"So that's why we came back to our vehicle, had another look and then realised the road he'd be on was probably in a higher area so he may have water crossing the road but he's not in an area that's actually at risk of being washed into the Logan River."
Family stuck on a roof
The job was handed off to QFES and the flood boat's next call was to Beaudesert Boonah Road at Bromelton, which had gone under.
"We had word of a family that had to get onto the roof of their house," Mr Dorricott said.
"The visibility had improved by that time .. it was probably about 11pm. The people on the roof of the house could see us coming, shining our torches. They were able to start shining their torches and the auxiliaries (firefighters) were able to help us get our bearings out there.
"We found the people we were looking for, and while I was loading them into the boat, Kevin went and checked on some of the neighbouring houses. They were a bit higher and drier and wanted to stay, which was their choice. So we evacuated another two people and a dog and took them back Beaudesert SES shed where someone else took them over to the evac centre."
Family reunited
Mr Dorricott the sun made an appearance on Monday, so they had been scouting around for a bit.
"We were up just past Jimboomba near Camp Cable Road where it was flooding when we got a call about a woman who was in town with some of her kids and needed to get back to some kids who were still at home in Undullah," he said.
"There was quite a bit of flooding out that way, so we decided the best course of action because she had small children with her ... was to evacuate the three children who were still at home back to Beaudesert where they could at least all be together as a family.
A neighbour was able to bring the children down to the flooded Undullah Road.
"We were able to launch there and get into the paddocks and traverse the Logan River, which was quite swollen and travelling probably 25-30 knots. So we went over, got the three kids and two small dogs and brought them back."
Mr Dorricott said the flood boat sustained minor damage and had taken on water.
"That's the nature of these things. That's why we have boats built the way they are with lots of positive flotation, so even if something catastrophic happens, they'll never sink," he said.
He said that rescue had been the most rewarding of the week.
'We had a family of eight there. Bringing the family together and suddenly having eight people in front of you in tears, hugging and crying, that was a rewarding moment."
Mr Dorricott said the training he received in the Scenic Rim SES had stood him in good stead for the operation and he was glad he did not transfer out of the region when he moved to the city.
"Given the skill set that I have, I chose to remain a member (of Scenic Rim SES) and not transfer to another group," he said.
"I spent six years as a member here and I gained experience in land searches in mountainous areas and vertical rescues as well as flood boat operations.
"I'm also a trainer and I teach many of those skills.
"To take all that training and the ability to do all those things up to Brisbane with me is not really a fair thing, plus these are my friends, the people I know and the people I love, so it's still my community at heart."