PERTH (Azat TV) – Western Australia faced a challenging Australia Day weekend, marked by a critical beach rescue operation in Perth, ongoing severe weather warnings from an ex-tropical cyclone moving across the state, and a significant community effort to restore a Bunbury home ravaged by squatters. Emergency services responded swiftly to save two men from distress at Bennion Beach, while authorities urged caution as former Cyclone Luana continued its path, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to regional areas, even as a local community in Bunbury demonstrated remarkable solidarity in the face of a unique housing crisis.
Australia Day Beach Drama Unfolds
Emergency services converged on Bennion Beach in Perth on Australia Day afternoon following reports of two men in distress in the water. St John ambulances, police, lifeguards, and firefighters were dispatched to the popular beach around 3 p.m. At least seven ambulance resources were sent to the scene, supported by a Surf Lifesaver rescue helicopter hovering overhead. A 40-year-old male and a 33-year-old male were successfully pulled from the water and immediately provided with emergency first aid. The 40-year-old was transported to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital under emergency lights and sirens, while the 33-year-old was also taken to the same hospital under normal road conditions. The conditions of the men were not immediately known. The incident led to the temporary closure of West Coast Drive, just after the Karrinyup Road roundabout, in both directions, with the road reopening around 4:30 p.m. after emergency services had cleared the scene, according to Perthnow.com.au reporting.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Luana’s Continued Impact
Meanwhile, ex-Tropical Cyclone Luana continued its trajectory across Western Australia, prompting severe weather warnings for various parts of the state. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a storm advice at 8:49 a.m. on Monday, January 26, warning residents in parts of the Kimberley, Pilbara, Midwest Gascoyne, and Goldfields Midlands regions to anticipate heavy rainfall and damaging winds. Locations that may be particularly affected include Carnegie, Parnngurr, Telfer, and Warburton. Damaging wind gusts of up to 90km/h were possible near the system, and flash flooding was deemed likely about southern parts of the Kimberley and the North interior late on Monday. Emergency WA advised residents to secure important documents such as identification and insurance papers and to ensure their vehicle’s fuel tank was full as a precautionary measure. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Luana initially made landfall on the Kimberley’s Dampier Peninsula around 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, before moving southeast and weakening to a tropical low south of Derby on Sunday morning. The system had already caused significant damage, with Mercedes Cove Exclusive Coastal Retreat, a popular beach resort, suffering substantial destruction, including parts of its roof completely caved in, as shown in photographs posted to social media. DFES Kimberley Superintendent Leon Gardiner confirmed that the cyclone damage was mainly concentrated in Derby, with 12 call-outs for fallen trees blocking or leaning on homes.
Bunbury Community Rallies Against Squatter Damage
In a powerful display of community solidarity, residents and local businesses in Bunbury rallied to help an elderly mother and her son with a disability regain their home after it was invaded and severely damaged by squatters. The property’s condition was described by Junk Rant Rubbish Removal company as ‘piles of junk — jagged scrap metal, rubbish burnt to ash, discarded bikes, worn-down tyres, broken sheds and knee-high weeds.’ The clean-up effort, spearheaded by the Carey Park Lions Club and supported by the Vasse Lions Club, began with the removal of a graffiti-covered caravan, which Secretary of Vasse Lions Club Trish Robinson believed initially attracted the squatters. Ms. Robinson stated that Centrecare, an organization working with the family, had been frustrated by the lack of specific assistance programs available for this type of event, highlighting a significant gap in community support services. She emphasized the profound mental and physical strain placed on the 80-plus-year-old mother, who is the primary carer for her 50-year-old son with a disability. The house had also been broken into multiple times after the family regained possession, raising police concerns about the lingering presence of the caravan and the message it conveyed. The community and business support for the project was described as ‘amazing’ by Ms. Robinson. Sam from Junk Rant Rubbish Removal and his father undertook a monumental clean-up, accepting significantly less than the job’s true worth. Roberts Transport removed the caravan free of charge, and an anonymous benefactor covered the tip fees. As of Monday, January 26, only about three trailer-loads of rubbish remained, which Lions Club members planned to remove over the following days. Ms. Robinson asserted that the situation underscored the critical role of service clubs in bridging community gaps that non-profit groups, often limited by specific mandates, cannot address alone. Despite the Carey Park Lions Club Branch being small, with only a few members, the project was successfully achieved through collective community effort, resulting in the ‘best possible outcome regardless of the circumstances.’
The varied incidents across Western Australia, from immediate life-saving efforts on Australia Day to the long-term recovery from natural disaster and social blight, underscore the diverse challenges confronting the region. The Bunbury case, in particular, highlights the vital role of grassroots community organizations in addressing complex social issues where formal support structures may fall short, demonstrating that local resilience and collective action are often the first and last lines of defense for vulnerable populations.