The volunteers were on a training assessment when things suddenly got real. Photo: NSW SES.
What began as a weekend training exercise for NSW State Emergency Service (SES) in the Snowy Mountains turned into the real thing when a missing skier’s life suddenly depended on their skills.
Chief Inspector Malika Bailey and her team of volunteers were in the middle of an alpine search-and-rescue assessment – the kind of gruelling exercise that involves learning snowcraft, camping on the mountain overnight and navigating unpredictable terrain – when a “no-duff” call came over the radio.
“That’s the phrase we use when something real has happened,” Bailey explained.
“We had to very quickly switch our hats from assessment training to operational response.”
The missing man was 57-year-old Cameron Little, an experienced skier who had set out on a week-long backcountry trek through Kosciuszko National Park. His family expected him home on 13 September, so when he didn’t return, the police phone rang.
Bailey, who has served with the NSW SES for 14 years, was actually being assessed herself at the time. In an instant, she had to revert from student to commander.
“I went from being the one under assessment to running the operation,” she said.
“New members were teamed up with senior leaders, we had snowmobiles deployed, side-by-sides moving through the terrain, and others supporting police at the command centre.”
Backcountry skier Cameron Little failed to return home on 13 September, seven days after he left. Photo: NSW Police.
The conditions weren’t kind. Melting spring snow made progress slow, and there was no confirmation on where exactly Mr Little had ended up, so the search area was vast. Teams from NSW Police, PolAir, the Rural Fire Service, Police Rescue Squad and National Parks and Wildlife Service all joined the effort – on foot, in helicopters and on snowmobiles.
“Everyone fell back into their roles,” Bailey said.
“It was a massive area, and the priority was narrowing it down to give police the best chance of locating him quickly.”
The breakthrough came the following afternoon.
At about 1 pm on Sunday, 14 September, searchers found Little near Valentine’s Hut, one of the network of rustic shelters scattered throughout the national park.
Cameron was found safe and sound. Photo: NSW SES.
“Those huts can be lifesavers,” Bailey said.
“People can take shelter if a storm comes through, keep warm with a bit of firewood, and sign the logbook so we can know they’ve been there.”
Little was tired, but otherwise unharmed. He needed no medical treatment – a rare happy ending in a region where weather can turn dangerous within minutes.
For Bailey’s unit, it’s been a hectic season.
“It seems to happen every time – this year has been especially bad for the snowfields,” she said.
“We’ve been having a busy run of rescues, and even during both our alpine assessments this year, we’ve had real-life ‘no-duffs’ called.”
She said a “common theme” is people not taking enough time to plan their trip.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as researching the terrain, having a Plan B, or talking to National Parks before you set out. And always, always carry a Personal Locator Beacon.”
NSW Police echoed that advice after Little’s rescue, urging bushwalkers and skiers to pack charged mobile phones, backup power banks and GPS-enabled beacons – and to submit a Trip Intention Form before heading out.
Malika Bailey has worked with NSW SES for 14 years. Photo: NSW SES.
Bailey put it more bluntly: “It really is simple: If you’re lost, press the button on the beacon. You may be lost, but this gives us your location. Once you’ve done that, sit and stay there, and we’ll come to you as quickly as possible.”
But while the Snowy Mountains weekend may not have gone exactly as planned for the team, it also provided the most authentic test of their skills possible.
“Everybody likes a happy ending,” Bailey said.
“If you can walk away and laugh about it later, that’s a win.”
