PORT Macquarie State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers were the overall winners at the 2026 NSW State Road Crash Rescue Challenge held in Dubbo from 1-3 May, outperforming teams across the state and beyond.
Over 200 emergency service personnel from agencies including NSW SES, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Ambulance, VRA Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, Country Fire Authority Victoria, and the Victorian SES came together for the multi-day event which tested advanced rescue, trauma care and emergency response capabilities.
“It’s a fantastic result for our team and a real credit to the time and effort our members put into regular training,” said Katie Blake, Unit Commander Port Macquarie SES.
“All our rescue operators train to be the kind of responder we’d want turning up for our own family in an emergency – professional, highly skilled and capable.”
The Port Macquarie team were outstanding in delivering performances across a series of realistic high-pressure scenarios, including road crash rescue, industrial and domestic rescue, and trauma and CPR challenges.
The event included a professional development symposium along with specialist training sessions, covering emergency challenges such as electric vehicle rescues, vehicle intrusion management and bariatric response techniques.
The win highlights Port Macquarie’s growing reputation as a leader in rescue capability and reinforces the importance of ongoing training and inter-agency collaboration in keeping communities safe.
By Bill HARROW
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