Community
24 October, 2024
Humble heroes
WITH the anniversary of Cyclone Jasper’s visit to the Far North fast approaching, the memories of that pre-Christmas period last year are still strong in people’s minds.
For some, the effects of the wind and heavy rain are still more than just a memory.
What we do know, amongst the chaos of recent months is that without certain local heroes stepping up to the task, the situation may have been far more tragic.
At Mossman Gorge, the Douglas Shire Council acknowledged these people, together with the community groups that played their part in many different ways,
One local hero is Jessica Alexandratos, a registered nurse who lives at Wonga Beach.
While her own house was in a high-risk area, she was still committed to helping others.
With her qualified nursing skills, Ms Alexandratos offered her services to members of the community, delivering medication to those in, or unable to leave, their homes.
In some cases, this was via a tinny down a waterway that should have been a road.
She helped set up a nurse’s hub at Wonga Beach State School and checked in on those who were known to the community with mental health issues and the elderly.
“I stayed up most of the night once the flood started, as I live in a flood prone area,” Ms Alexandratos said.
“Fortunately, my home is on stumps and sat just above the water where I was able to get into a four-wheel drive and make it through the flood water out of our property,” she said.
“I thought that I should find a way to help, especially as a nurse, so I went down to the Wonga Beach school, which had opened as an evacuation hub.
“I figured that if people needed help and could get out, that would be the place most people would think to come to.”
Ms Alexandratos was given access to the school sick bay to set up first aid supplies. By asking around she was able to get a small stock of medications that came in handy.
Hearing another area of Wonga had severe flooding and that they had boats to get people out, she jumped into her vehicle and went down to where the river had broken its banks.
On arrival, there were a number of locals collecting people in tinnies from their flooded homes and bringing them to safety.
Ms Alexandratos met another friend, who is also a nurse, and together they assessed any injuries, including those in shock.
“There were some faces that I will never forget, with a look of just disbelief and fear,” she said.
“It was scary being cut off by the rivers, knowing we couldn’t get access to the hospital or get an ambulance in”.
Humbly, Ms Alexandratos was very surprised to receive a nomination for the acknowledgement event and has never thought of herself as a hero.
“I was a member of my community who could step in, when my community needed me” she said.
Read More: Mossman
