Builders, city-planners and support workers: how this eclectic bunch saves lives

Many rescue crews are volunteers who put immense effort into their preparation, including competitions like the Road Crash Rescue Challenge. But who are they as people, and how do they stay calm under pressure?

Ryan Jones is team leader of NSW State Emergency Service Forbes - he's been part of SES operations in Orana and Hawkesbury for 20 years, and has competed in international training meets.

Mr Jones is a builder, by trade, and a small business owner. His volunteer crew is made of city planners, vehicle mechanics, and ability support workers - they save lives.

"We have undergone countless hours of training over the years to prepare for a whole range of rescue and supply situations. We are experts, but we are still volunteers," Mr Jones said.

"Our crew is made up of people with a whole range of knowledge from a diverse list of jobs. Quick-thinking city planning analysts are terrific in rescue medical evaluation situations, and heavy mine vehicle mechanics come in very handy when you need to saw open a rolled car with a trapped patient.

"One challenge in regional NSW is that we - thankfully - go periods without jobs so we train Wednesdays as a crew, and join other crews and organisations for competitions to better our skills."

His team just took part in the 2025 Road Crash Rescue Challenge in Dubbo. In the controlled rescue division, they rescued patients from the model of a real crash in which two people were stuck in a rolled vehicle next to a utility pole.

The team had 30 minutes to devise and carry out a medical and rescue operation - cutting one patient free and using an airbag to free a patient from under the vehicle.

Mr Jones was directly involved in the devastating November, 2022 Forbes floods.

"We spent so, so much time preparing for that flood. We laid sandbags for weeks and when the water came we had to distribute supplies, save people trapped on their properties, and resupply farmers," Mr Jones said.

"The situation is confronting. We lost a lot of sleep during that time and, yes, it is dejecting when things don't go our way. The thing that keep us going is the community and the opportunity to help people.

"I get asked how we get through it but, really, these competitions and training gets us through.

"Knowing we have a succinct procedure that we can break down piece by piece, staying analytical, and maintaining mentality make sure our skills create better outcomes every time."

The Daily Liberal also spoke to VRA Rescue NSW Western lead Glenn Hinton. Mr Hinton leads a team spanning from Lithgow to Narromine to Barrun Junction, who competed as one in 'The Challenge'.

The Western VRA team was most recently challenged when a 47-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man were rescued in a multi-agency operation in Warrumbungle National Park.

"That was a particularly difficult one. It required tremendous logistical effort to supply the climbers over night and to evaluate the woman's medical condition as well as a daring airlift out of high tops in the morning," Mr Hinton said.

"VRA is a volunteer organisation like the SES. Many of our members come from a huge range of different professions and backgrounds, but very few of us have impromptu abseiling capability.

"When we are faced with rescues like that, it is very important to have cross-organisation training and familiarity to ensure the best outcomes, so that's what the road rescue challenge ensures."

One of the competitions that Western VRA won involved releasing a dummy patient that was crushed under a 30-ton excavator.

To mimic reality, the challenge was constructed out of sight and the team was given only 30 minutes to evaluate and release the patient. Western VRA competed in five competitions and took first place in two.

"We take immense pride in our efforts at the VRA and the SES. Volunteers can save lives," Mr Hinton said.

In a well-earned 'shameless plug' for both organisations, Mr Jones added:

"If members of the community ever felt like they could see themselves in orange, saving lives, then they can come down on Wednesday night, training and just have a talk, and the same goes if you see yourself in green.

"Truly, genuinely, lots of skills are useful in these organisations. You might be more valuable than you think, and we have roles across admin, tools, and other support too," Mr Jones said.

Results of the 2025 Road Crash Rescue Challenge, held at Dubbo Showground, are as below: