
Several trapped in cars at Victoria's Mount Hotham due to heavy snow
More than 20 people were stuck in their cars which became bogged on the Blue Rag Range Track near Dargo High Plains Rd at about 10.30pm on Saturday.
Police and SES crews used snowmobiles to rescue 13 people, with a man in his 40s taken to hospital with minor injuries after his car rolled.
Several people remain stuck on the mountain. The rescue operation is ongoing.
As of Monday morning, 62cm of snow has fallen at Mount Hotham.
Dargo Highway Plains Rd is closed to all traffic due to the extreme weather conditions.
It's not expected to reopen until after the King's Birthday weekend.
Those heading to the snow have been warned to monitor extreme weather conditions and potential road closures.
'Reconsider your travel plans in areas affected by heavy snowfall if necessary. Stay safe out there,' VIC SES said.

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The Advertiser
15 hours ago
- The Advertiser
From a behind-the-scenes volunteer to the NSW SES spotlight
For over 50 years, SES Hastings Cluster Deputy Commander Garry Whitaker has been a volunteer working behind the scenes. That all changed in early August when Inspector Whitaker was recognised on the state stage. He was awarded the SES officer of the year and volunteer officer of the year at the Rotary Emergency Service Awards (RESCA) in early August. The honour came as a surprise to Inspector Whitaker. "I'm still a bit shocked about that. It's a huge honour," he said. "When I looked around at all the other finalists and all the other people in the room, it was a pretty impressive bunch of people who have given so much to their communities." The following morning, Inspector Whitaker returned to the region as strong winds and rainfall lashed the Mid North Coast. About 140 jobs were logged within the Hastings cluster (Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Camden Haven). Homes were without power, and roads were blocked due to downed trees. The Hastings cluster had about 50 volunteers who assisted the community on August 2 and 3. It has been a busy period for the region's emergency units as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the May floods have all impacted the area this year. However, it is after weather events that Inspector Whitaker has seen an increase in volunteer numbers. Volunteers have been the mainstay in helping local communities throughout these natural disasters. The SES's Hastings cluster alone responded to about 591 jobs during the May floods. "It's a pretty exciting time to be a volunteer, to be honest. Because there are so many ways that you can serve," he said. "You don't have to climb a ladder. Some people will choose to get involved in the technology, some would just simply like to do admin work." Inspector Whitaker said there has been a large focus on fatigue management of unit members, particularly in years like 2025 where "we really haven't stopped". The attrition rate is one of the factors, while some volunteers find that the roles do not suit them. Inspector Whitaker said that five years of service from a member is about the average. "But then others will stay on; it becomes their chosen activity," he said. This is exactly the situation Inspector Whitaker finds himself in. After retirement, he shares his time between the SES and the RFS's Yarramalong unit. "Volunteering is pretty special. I like to go out, hoping that I've done some good," he said. "I think a big part of that is encouraging, guiding and teaching the next generation and the one after that. "Hopefully, we'll be able to keep this going for as long as we're on the planet." His journey in volunteering started during Scouts, where he would complete Rovers (for people aged between 18 and 25) with the highest honour - the Queen's Scout Award. Inspector Whitaker then entered the Civil Defence Service (which was later renamed the SES) as a friend's brother was part of the organisation. "We thought it's a really great way to use the skills that we have and take it more broadly into the community," he said. "Helping people is a huge part of it. But there's all the other elements of it, the camaraderie, the friends that you make, and the ongoing opportunities to do exciting things. "There are always new things to learn as well. And I guess that's a passion of mine. I think if you go too many days without learning something new, you've wasted a bit of life." Inspector Whitaker is also part of the ceremonial team that will represent the SES at an annual memorial service that will be held in October in Sydney. Looking back at the recent natural disasters on the Mid North Coast, Inspector Whitaker said a few key lessons came out of them. The "big flood" of 2021 will be talked about for a very long time, according to Inspector Whitaker, while 2025 to date has been plagued with weather events he has not seen for a very long time. "Each time we learn a bit more, we get stronger, and we're able to respond better to the next event," he said. "Nothing is ever perfect." Advancements in technology over this period have also been a standout to Inspector Whitaker. "We're bringing in new capabilities all of the time," he said. On natural disasters as a whole, Inspector Whitaker said that every eight to 12 years there has been a major flood or storm event. During the May weather event, Inspector Whitaker's role was to support the local commander who has the responsibility for making sure that SES operations run as smoothly as possible, and to also support the people who get out in the field and do the hands-on work. Inspector Whitaker is now part of a team compiling a capability analysis. The report will highlight where training shortfalls are, how the gaps will be filled and if there will be a need for a recruitment drive. For over 50 years, SES Hastings Cluster Deputy Commander Garry Whitaker has been a volunteer working behind the scenes. That all changed in early August when Inspector Whitaker was recognised on the state stage. He was awarded the SES officer of the year and volunteer officer of the year at the Rotary Emergency Service Awards (RESCA) in early August. The honour came as a surprise to Inspector Whitaker. "I'm still a bit shocked about that. It's a huge honour," he said. "When I looked around at all the other finalists and all the other people in the room, it was a pretty impressive bunch of people who have given so much to their communities." The following morning, Inspector Whitaker returned to the region as strong winds and rainfall lashed the Mid North Coast. About 140 jobs were logged within the Hastings cluster (Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Camden Haven). Homes were without power, and roads were blocked due to downed trees. The Hastings cluster had about 50 volunteers who assisted the community on August 2 and 3. It has been a busy period for the region's emergency units as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the May floods have all impacted the area this year. However, it is after weather events that Inspector Whitaker has seen an increase in volunteer numbers. Volunteers have been the mainstay in helping local communities throughout these natural disasters. The SES's Hastings cluster alone responded to about 591 jobs during the May floods. "It's a pretty exciting time to be a volunteer, to be honest. Because there are so many ways that you can serve," he said. "You don't have to climb a ladder. Some people will choose to get involved in the technology, some would just simply like to do admin work." Inspector Whitaker said there has been a large focus on fatigue management of unit members, particularly in years like 2025 where "we really haven't stopped". The attrition rate is one of the factors, while some volunteers find that the roles do not suit them. Inspector Whitaker said that five years of service from a member is about the average. "But then others will stay on; it becomes their chosen activity," he said. This is exactly the situation Inspector Whitaker finds himself in. After retirement, he shares his time between the SES and the RFS's Yarramalong unit. "Volunteering is pretty special. I like to go out, hoping that I've done some good," he said. "I think a big part of that is encouraging, guiding and teaching the next generation and the one after that. "Hopefully, we'll be able to keep this going for as long as we're on the planet." His journey in volunteering started during Scouts, where he would complete Rovers (for people aged between 18 and 25) with the highest honour - the Queen's Scout Award. Inspector Whitaker then entered the Civil Defence Service (which was later renamed the SES) as a friend's brother was part of the organisation. "We thought it's a really great way to use the skills that we have and take it more broadly into the community," he said. "Helping people is a huge part of it. But there's all the other elements of it, the camaraderie, the friends that you make, and the ongoing opportunities to do exciting things. "There are always new things to learn as well. And I guess that's a passion of mine. I think if you go too many days without learning something new, you've wasted a bit of life." Inspector Whitaker is also part of the ceremonial team that will represent the SES at an annual memorial service that will be held in October in Sydney. Looking back at the recent natural disasters on the Mid North Coast, Inspector Whitaker said a few key lessons came out of them. The "big flood" of 2021 will be talked about for a very long time, according to Inspector Whitaker, while 2025 to date has been plagued with weather events he has not seen for a very long time. "Each time we learn a bit more, we get stronger, and we're able to respond better to the next event," he said. "Nothing is ever perfect." Advancements in technology over this period have also been a standout to Inspector Whitaker. "We're bringing in new capabilities all of the time," he said. On natural disasters as a whole, Inspector Whitaker said that every eight to 12 years there has been a major flood or storm event. During the May weather event, Inspector Whitaker's role was to support the local commander who has the responsibility for making sure that SES operations run as smoothly as possible, and to also support the people who get out in the field and do the hands-on work. Inspector Whitaker is now part of a team compiling a capability analysis. The report will highlight where training shortfalls are, how the gaps will be filled and if there will be a need for a recruitment drive. For over 50 years, SES Hastings Cluster Deputy Commander Garry Whitaker has been a volunteer working behind the scenes. That all changed in early August when Inspector Whitaker was recognised on the state stage. He was awarded the SES officer of the year and volunteer officer of the year at the Rotary Emergency Service Awards (RESCA) in early August. The honour came as a surprise to Inspector Whitaker. "I'm still a bit shocked about that. It's a huge honour," he said. "When I looked around at all the other finalists and all the other people in the room, it was a pretty impressive bunch of people who have given so much to their communities." The following morning, Inspector Whitaker returned to the region as strong winds and rainfall lashed the Mid North Coast. About 140 jobs were logged within the Hastings cluster (Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Camden Haven). Homes were without power, and roads were blocked due to downed trees. The Hastings cluster had about 50 volunteers who assisted the community on August 2 and 3. It has been a busy period for the region's emergency units as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the May floods have all impacted the area this year. However, it is after weather events that Inspector Whitaker has seen an increase in volunteer numbers. Volunteers have been the mainstay in helping local communities throughout these natural disasters. The SES's Hastings cluster alone responded to about 591 jobs during the May floods. "It's a pretty exciting time to be a volunteer, to be honest. Because there are so many ways that you can serve," he said. "You don't have to climb a ladder. Some people will choose to get involved in the technology, some would just simply like to do admin work." Inspector Whitaker said there has been a large focus on fatigue management of unit members, particularly in years like 2025 where "we really haven't stopped". The attrition rate is one of the factors, while some volunteers find that the roles do not suit them. Inspector Whitaker said that five years of service from a member is about the average. "But then others will stay on; it becomes their chosen activity," he said. This is exactly the situation Inspector Whitaker finds himself in. After retirement, he shares his time between the SES and the RFS's Yarramalong unit. "Volunteering is pretty special. I like to go out, hoping that I've done some good," he said. "I think a big part of that is encouraging, guiding and teaching the next generation and the one after that. "Hopefully, we'll be able to keep this going for as long as we're on the planet." His journey in volunteering started during Scouts, where he would complete Rovers (for people aged between 18 and 25) with the highest honour - the Queen's Scout Award. Inspector Whitaker then entered the Civil Defence Service (which was later renamed the SES) as a friend's brother was part of the organisation. "We thought it's a really great way to use the skills that we have and take it more broadly into the community," he said. "Helping people is a huge part of it. But there's all the other elements of it, the camaraderie, the friends that you make, and the ongoing opportunities to do exciting things. "There are always new things to learn as well. And I guess that's a passion of mine. I think if you go too many days without learning something new, you've wasted a bit of life." Inspector Whitaker is also part of the ceremonial team that will represent the SES at an annual memorial service that will be held in October in Sydney. Looking back at the recent natural disasters on the Mid North Coast, Inspector Whitaker said a few key lessons came out of them. The "big flood" of 2021 will be talked about for a very long time, according to Inspector Whitaker, while 2025 to date has been plagued with weather events he has not seen for a very long time. "Each time we learn a bit more, we get stronger, and we're able to respond better to the next event," he said. "Nothing is ever perfect." Advancements in technology over this period have also been a standout to Inspector Whitaker. "We're bringing in new capabilities all of the time," he said. On natural disasters as a whole, Inspector Whitaker said that every eight to 12 years there has been a major flood or storm event. During the May weather event, Inspector Whitaker's role was to support the local commander who has the responsibility for making sure that SES operations run as smoothly as possible, and to also support the people who get out in the field and do the hands-on work. Inspector Whitaker is now part of a team compiling a capability analysis. The report will highlight where training shortfalls are, how the gaps will be filled and if there will be a need for a recruitment drive. For over 50 years, SES Hastings Cluster Deputy Commander Garry Whitaker has been a volunteer working behind the scenes. That all changed in early August when Inspector Whitaker was recognised on the state stage. He was awarded the SES officer of the year and volunteer officer of the year at the Rotary Emergency Service Awards (RESCA) in early August. The honour came as a surprise to Inspector Whitaker. "I'm still a bit shocked about that. It's a huge honour," he said. "When I looked around at all the other finalists and all the other people in the room, it was a pretty impressive bunch of people who have given so much to their communities." The following morning, Inspector Whitaker returned to the region as strong winds and rainfall lashed the Mid North Coast. About 140 jobs were logged within the Hastings cluster (Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Camden Haven). Homes were without power, and roads were blocked due to downed trees. The Hastings cluster had about 50 volunteers who assisted the community on August 2 and 3. It has been a busy period for the region's emergency units as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the May floods have all impacted the area this year. However, it is after weather events that Inspector Whitaker has seen an increase in volunteer numbers. Volunteers have been the mainstay in helping local communities throughout these natural disasters. The SES's Hastings cluster alone responded to about 591 jobs during the May floods. "It's a pretty exciting time to be a volunteer, to be honest. Because there are so many ways that you can serve," he said. "You don't have to climb a ladder. Some people will choose to get involved in the technology, some would just simply like to do admin work." Inspector Whitaker said there has been a large focus on fatigue management of unit members, particularly in years like 2025 where "we really haven't stopped". The attrition rate is one of the factors, while some volunteers find that the roles do not suit them. Inspector Whitaker said that five years of service from a member is about the average. "But then others will stay on; it becomes their chosen activity," he said. This is exactly the situation Inspector Whitaker finds himself in. After retirement, he shares his time between the SES and the RFS's Yarramalong unit. "Volunteering is pretty special. I like to go out, hoping that I've done some good," he said. "I think a big part of that is encouraging, guiding and teaching the next generation and the one after that. "Hopefully, we'll be able to keep this going for as long as we're on the planet." His journey in volunteering started during Scouts, where he would complete Rovers (for people aged between 18 and 25) with the highest honour - the Queen's Scout Award. Inspector Whitaker then entered the Civil Defence Service (which was later renamed the SES) as a friend's brother was part of the organisation. "We thought it's a really great way to use the skills that we have and take it more broadly into the community," he said. "Helping people is a huge part of it. But there's all the other elements of it, the camaraderie, the friends that you make, and the ongoing opportunities to do exciting things. "There are always new things to learn as well. And I guess that's a passion of mine. I think if you go too many days without learning something new, you've wasted a bit of life." Inspector Whitaker is also part of the ceremonial team that will represent the SES at an annual memorial service that will be held in October in Sydney. Looking back at the recent natural disasters on the Mid North Coast, Inspector Whitaker said a few key lessons came out of them. The "big flood" of 2021 will be talked about for a very long time, according to Inspector Whitaker, while 2025 to date has been plagued with weather events he has not seen for a very long time. "Each time we learn a bit more, we get stronger, and we're able to respond better to the next event," he said. "Nothing is ever perfect." Advancements in technology over this period have also been a standout to Inspector Whitaker. "We're bringing in new capabilities all of the time," he said. On natural disasters as a whole, Inspector Whitaker said that every eight to 12 years there has been a major flood or storm event. During the May weather event, Inspector Whitaker's role was to support the local commander who has the responsibility for making sure that SES operations run as smoothly as possible, and to also support the people who get out in the field and do the hands-on work. Inspector Whitaker is now part of a team compiling a capability analysis. The report will highlight where training shortfalls are, how the gaps will be filled and if there will be a need for a recruitment drive.

Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Sky News AU
Wet weather to hit southeast Queensland and New South Wales on Monday with cold weather to return in Melbourne
Wet weather is expected to return next week to southeast Queensland and New South Wales with residents in Sydney and Brisbane expected to cop the worse of it. Residents in New South Wales will see rain on Monday whilst Brisbane is expected to cop a drenching on Tuesday. Within that rain band, some gauges may see totals between 100-110mm, but it is unclear where it is expected to hit. This weekend, it is expected to be a cold one in Melbourne and Hobart as a cold front sweeps across the southeast of the country, but Perth will be spared the worse of the weather on Saturday breaking a six-week streak of wet weather. Across the weekend, conditions across the capital cities are expected to be mostly settled ahead of a change in the weather next week. On Saturday, Darwin will be mostly overcast with tops of 33C, Brisbane will be sunny with tops of 24C whilst Sydney will have a mostly cloudy start to the day with tops of 18C. Residents in Canberra will wake to a cold start before mostly cloudy skies, with a top of 12 degrees, whilst Melbourne and Hobart will shiver through a cold front with tops of 12. Adelaide will be warm with tops of 14 whilst Perth will be sunny with tops of 20. The sunny weather on Saturday breaks a six week weekend of wet weather for the western Australian capital which saw a 30 year record broken for the wettest winter in the Perth area. But on Sunday, conditions are expected to change as a rain band begins to cross the eastern states, with temperatures falling in Sydney to 17 and a frosty and cold start to the day in Canberra with lows of -4 and highs of 13. Conditions will also be cool in Hobart, Melbourne and Adelaide with a top of 12 in the Victorian and Tasmanian capitals whilst a mostly cloudy but warm day will greet residents in Perth. Brisbane and Darwin will be sunny. Sky News Weather Meteorologist Rob Sharpe said that the rain gauges across the eastern states were expected to be high, but could not pinpoint where the totals were expected to surpass 100mm. 'Somewhere between the Sunshine Coast and Illawarra will almost certainly exceed 100mm next week with even a chance of somewhere notching up more than 150mm," Sharpe said. The Bureau of Meteorology has not issued any weather warnings for the two states and the SES has not issued any flood warnings, but it is expected that warnings could be issued if rivers are likely to peak. However, the BoM has issued a marine wind warning for the Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast for Saturday.

The Australian
04-08-2025
- The Australian
Woman missing as NSW floods, snow in Northern Tablelands as weather system hits
An urgent search is underway after a woman was swept away overnight in rising floodwaters in NSW's Hunter Region. Two women in their 20s were driving about 16km north of Cessnock when their Mini Countryman became stuck as they tried to drive through floodwaters. Both women exited the car, and the passenger was swept away. The 27-year-old driver was safe. The search was suspended overnight and has resumed today. Rainfall totals as high as 137mm have triggered widespread emergency responses across NSW and southeast Queensland, after a barrage of wild weather hit both states. The NSW State Emergency Service has issued more than 40 flood warnings north of Newcastle, with parts of one town urged to evacuate immediately. Six streets in the Upper Hunter town of Scone were ordered to evacuate by 4am Sunday after 'major flooding'. 'If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services,' the SES has warned residents. 'It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you, and buildings may not be able to withstand the impact of flood water.' The NSW SES responded to more than 1,455 incidents caused by the severe weather, including more than 100 vehicles stuck in snow on the New England Highway, Waterfall Way, Norris Drive and Grafton Road. 'Unprecedented snowfall was recorded around Armidale and Guyra yesterday afternoon, creating dangerous road conditions,' the SES reported. The conditions are expected to ease on Sunday afternoon, but high levels of snow will make driving dangerous and there remains a risk of riverine flooding. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said snow had been seen as far north as the Granite Belt in southeast Queensland. 'Now all of this snow, particularly across the northern tablelands, did create some fairly dangerous driving conditions and some roads are still closed,' Ms Bradbury said. 'Conditions will gradually ease through the course of today, but they'll ease more rapidly overnight tonight into Monday 'By Monday, we're really expecting fairly isolated showers across the East Coast, with wind starting to pull back as well. 'However, we are likely to see hazardous surf persisting through to the middle of the coming week, with flooding likely to continue as well, our riverine catchments are saturated and they will take a few days to start to come down from those flood levels that are expected.' She went on to warn that a cold front hitting Western Australia could bring strong winds and thunderstorms. 'These winds will be ramping up about the southwest coast through this morning,' Ms Bradbury said. 'The forecast for Western Australia today indicates widespread showers and thunderstorms as the second cold front moves through, sweeping across those southwestern parts of the state. 'Thunderstorm could become severe through the course of today. 'We may also see small hail about the southwest coast of Western Australia today, including around the Perth area.' Brendan Kearns Cadet Journalist Brendan Kearns is a cadet journalist with News Corp Australia. He has written for The Australian, the Herald Sun, the Geelong Advertiser, CHOICE, Cosmos, and The Citizen. He won Democracy's Watchdogs' Student Award for Investigative Journalism 2024 and hosted the third season of award-winning podcast Uncurated. He studied as Master of Journalism at The University of Melbourne, before that he worked as a video producer and disability worker. NewsWire NSW Police are reviewing footage of an officer allegedly pushing a woman to the ground during a dramatic arrest after a car was damaged outside a school. NewsWire Flights have been delayed as thousands of passengers were forced to be rescreened for security from Brisbane Airport following a technical fault.