BEHIND the army of emergency services and volunteers rallying to help Camden Haven residents during natural disasters like this month’s floods, is a battalion of public communicators responsible for alerting, reporting and updating critical information.
Official media advisors and news organisations like News Of The Area work hard to discover, verify, interpret, and deliver accurate information, while also sharing community concerns and uplifting stories of courage and hope.
But also working hard to keep people up to date, and upbeat, are the unseen curators and moderators of the social media noticeboards we scroll through to see how our neighbours and neighbourhoods are faring.
Forums like “Heads Up In The Camden Haven” on Facebook may entertain and enrage, but they can literally save lives – as administrators Monica and Brian Eggins (aka Moondog Littlewood and Buzzy Bill) shared in the following Q&As.
In her responses on behalf of the joint admins, “Moondog” (who couldn’t resist applying a conversational touch to NOTA’s questions) highlighted the value of staying connected.
“I want to emphasise the importance of safety and looking out for one another,” she said.
“This is a tough time, but we are all in this together.
“Please continue to share updates, assist each other, and check in on your friends and family.”
Q&As
- How much work goes into keeping an eye on all the info during a crisis?
“It’s a fair bit of work, mate! We’re always on the lookout for posts, checking facts, and making sure we’re sharing only the right info. It’s all about accessing credible sources of information to keep things legit.”
- What’s the community’s vibe like during this crisis?
“The community’s been really great, with people stepping up and helping each other out. There’s a strong sense of mateship as everyone pulls together to get through this. I think people were more prepared this time around and knew they could come to our page for up-to-date information.”
- What were the main issues popping up in the posts?
“We’re seeing a lot about safety concerns. People asking for help, and needing clear info on things like road closures and evacuation routes, and where to get resources. There’s also some chatter about how the whole situation is affecting people’s mental health.”
- Have you had to deal with any dodgy info or nasty comments this past week?
“Yeah, we’ve had a bit of dodgy info and some rude comments. It’s important to tackle that stuff quickly to keep everyone’s trust and make sure people get the right info. Our biggest issue was keeping people updated with road closures, specifically the Kendall bridge. People kept prematurely stating that the road was about to close, and it caused a bit of panic.”
- How much do you chase down official info to share with everyone?
“We’re always on the hunt for official updates from local councils and emergency services to share with the community. It’s all about making sure the info we give out is spot on and useful.”
- Do local authorities and emergency services keep in touch with you?
“In the 2021 floods, our page was partially responsible for a few rescues in North Haven. People were posting on our page, and we were liaising with the SES and local heroes that were on boats saving people. It was amazing to be part of that even when we were flooded in ourselves and unable to physically help with the rescues. We were fortunate that the Camden Haven wasn’t as badly hit… this time around. But we were prepared if it came to it again.
- What are some of the best and worst stories you’ve seen in the posts over the last week?”
“There have been some uplifting stories, such as people coming together to support those in need. Conversely, there are also some difficult stories, like families who have lost their homes and, more tragically, how people lost their lives in the Manning, Wauchope and Macleay.”
- What motivates you to take on such a large responsibility?
“Our motivation comes from wanting to help the community. It is inspiring to see people come together during challenging times. Knowing that we can make a difference keeps us motivated, even when the work is demanding.”
By Sue STEPHENSON
