Meet John!
Clearing debris in the croc infested Adelaide River is just one of several memorable moments for John Hayward in his time with the Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES).
Seeking adventure and the opportunity to build new skills, along with a deep resolve to serve the community, John commenced with NTES in 1992 and has been a part of the service on and off as a volunteer since.
“Responding to the collapse of the Adelaide River Bridge in 1998, I was clearing debris with a chainsaw,” John said. “The ranger in the boat with me had a 308 firearm for safety. “It was a job that needed to be done to get the barge in to fix the bridge. “We just got on and did it.”
John assisted in the aftermath of the 1998 flooding event in Katherine, flying in with a team from NTES to assist the community in the clean-up. He also travelled to the remote community of Gunbalanya to assist following the Category 5 Cyclone Monica in 2006.
“In times of need NTES is vitally important to the community,” he said. “I have always enjoyed learning new things and helping people. The skills you build, the people you meet, it has been an interesting ride over the years. I have taken the wide-ranging skills I learned through NTES into my day job as a park ranger and also brought skills to NTES.”
John has received many acknowledgments of thanks for assisting people throughout the years with NTES, with one remaining firm in his memory. In 1993, John formed part of a taskforce to search for a missing boy at Dunmarra, south of Katherine. He remained with the team searching for more than a week, where despite their efforts, a young person was found too late. For his efforts he was awarded a plaque in appreciation of his efforts from the NT Police Force.
“There are tough times that come with the Territory, some of the land and sea search and rescues have not deemed the result we would have hoped for, but people are still so thankful for the work we do,” John said. “In some cases, people have just thanked us for helping to bring them closure for their loved-one.”
Over the years John has seen many changes and improvements in the way emergency response is provided in the Territory and beyond.
“Along with advances in technology, one of the major developments has been in pre-deployment work,” he said. “There are always lessons to learn about how to prepare in advance of an emergency situation.”
John has held positions including Training Officer, Marine Officer and Search and Rescue Officer. He most recently held the position of Palmerston Volunteer Deputy Unit Officer in 2023 and continues to volunteer with NTES.
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