By Oliver Lees
From Gisborne to Geraldton, Neville ‘Nev’ Spiers is jetting off to help Australians recovering from tropical cyclone Seroja.
The State Emergency Service (SES) Gisborne volunteer has been selected for a five-day deployment to Western Australia, where he will spend three days in and around Geraldton cleaning up after the cyclone’s path of destruction.
The cyclone tore across Western Australia’s mid-west towns Northampton and Kalbarri, some 700 kilometres north of Perth.
The ABC reported last week that approximately 70 per cent of buildings in Kalbarri were damaged, with winds reaching heights of 170km/h.
Mr Spiers was able to apply to help because he holds a Safe Working at Heights (SWAHS) and chainsaw qualifications. He also has experience as a crew leader.