
Midnight call-outs are all part of the job
BEING called out at midnight to strip heritage-listed rails off the Lamington Bridge or borrowing fuel to fire up a generator at Granville's Groundwater Lodge nursing home is all part of the job for Maryborough's John Kinross.
As a Granville-based council crewman, Mr Kinross has helped the Fraser Coast both prepare for and clean up after major flooding for most of the past two decades.
He is among the emergency services responders the Fraser Coast Chronicle will be profiling this flood season.
The 2013 floods was the final disaster he worked through, as he will retire this year.
The job includes preparing the city for rising floodwaters that cut off Granville and nearby towns.
"I've been through that many (floods)," he said.
"There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes."
In the days before Maryborough was flooded last year, Mr Kinross door-knocked to help residents prepare or to evacuate.
He also helped organise a boat to be sent across Little Tinana Creek and sourced the fuel for the generator sent across to Groundwater Lodge to keep power running.
"We rely on the locals on this side, their generosity," he said.
Mr Kinross said it was not uncommon to cop abuse from Fraser Coast residents, some who try to go through road closed signs.
He called on people to pay attention and steer clear of closed roads in future floods.
Need advice?
- For advice and information on disaster planning, go to www.facebook.com/FCRCdisaster
- Pick up the Chronicle each Saturday this summer to hear more from our emergency services responders