It’s an ill wind that blows no good.
While the rains have been a huge inconvenience to many, and crushed the dreams of others, a surprising number of ANU students were able to grab rubber rafts and make merry on Sullivans Creek.
Thanks to Gus929 for the tip.
Loading ...
HenryBG said :
Like climate change deniers!
Seriously though HenryBG, pretty much every time there is a flood there are people who need to be rescued because of their own dimwitedness (whether it is people playing in flood waters, or people trying to cross flooded roads in their cars).
It is easy to say there is risk associated with everything in life, and we should therefore not condemn these people, but as with every type of risk, it is a matter of risk versus benefit. The simple fact is the risks from playing in storm waters outweigh the benefits of playing in them.
I don’t give a crap about the people who play in the storm water. If they want to risk their lives, that’s their prerogative. However, every time someone gets stuck in storm waters, people need to put themselves at serious risk to save them. It is a selfish action, in which a few minutes of fun can quickly turn into a situation where a rescue worker needs to put themselves on the line in order to save someone who is in a situation that was easily avoidable. It shouldn’t be applauded or even simply dismissed as harmless fun.
dpm said :
Motor racing, hang gliding, rock climbing, heli skiing, solo round-the-world yachting, drinking a bottle of bourbon in one sitting, it’s all bloody dangerous, and it all puts others at risk (rescuers, bystanders, etc..)
Some people are completely averse to risk. They want to live their cocooned suburban life without ever seeing or hearing anything risky.
I suppose it takes all sorts, but I say you should live and let live instead of trying to make other people miserable by trying to impose your personal and peculiar values on them.
Now, where’s that bottle of JD got to….
HenryBG said :
Driving really fast over the speed limit is taking risks is *FUN*. I suppose the only difference is in a car you have a higher chance of killing someone else too…?
Sandman said :
You can never beat the fun police: they are Right, because they are self-righteous.
Imagine people taking risks! AND having *FUN*! How awful! Somebody should *do* something.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Kendall_Crace
Woody Mann-Caruso said :
The good old days. Like when I was about 10 or 12 I hired a cricket pitch roller to make our own turf pitch on Melba oval we got the roller there in the back of a taxi paid for by a turkey raffle fund.
Oh good. I was wondering what had happened to ‘Annoyingly Loud Slightly Forced Attention Seeking Laughter Guy’.
We had a creek that ran between our property and the next. It was full of tractor parts, tyres, branches and rocks, and spanned at head height by barbed wire fences. When it flooded we’d hop in and lie down, luge style, and shoot like a rocket through the twisting banks. When you got to a fence you’d have to quickly exhale and sink so you’d slip under the wire. We should have died a thousand times over, but the worst seemed to be a few nasty gashes (no stitches) and some very painful tropical ear infections.
First time ive seen that there. I use to go lilo riding down the Cotter river though ages ago.
Instant Mash said :
Except when they smash the heads in wearing no helmets and your taxes and mine have to pay for their years of rehabilitation
An old army mate of mine, probably about 50 years of age, is now a swiftwater rescue qualified firie in QLD. Last year him and one of his mates rescued some some people during the floods up there. They had a backup plan before they went in the water. The plan was that he dialed his headquarters and hung up immediately. He then passed the phone to a bystander and said “If we get swept away, press redial and tell whoever answers that a family and two crewmen have been lost.” Magnificent courage and balls of steel.
Knowing how insanely dangerous it was, they voluntarily went into the water because duty called. One of the children in the family was swept away and drowned, but the others were saved.
This is what I thought of when I saw these arsehats in action. I hope that no swiftwater rescue qualified ACT firie ends up handing someone a phone because of fools like this, and saying ‘If we get swept away…”
Disinformation said :
It was none of those criteria and no super powers of observation. I simply asked one of them. It’s amazing what you can find out when you don’t sit around at home cursing the world for being adventurous.
Thoroughly Smashed said :
What cover version? Steve Harris’ 13 1/2 minute epic has two four line quotes from the Coleridge poem; and one of those is the spoken word part of the song.
I cannot avow such Blasphemy to go unchallenged.
c_c said :
He he, I snuck past the traffic control guy and went down to Coppins Crossing for a look this afternoon. Three cops were their having a look themselves. 🙂
When rafting/kyaking etc. you should always aim for the v in the water. This is the deepest part of the waterway. Notice that those who raft more to the right (as the rafters are travelling) stay on and those who are closer to the bank gets bucked off.
Also, you need to travel faster than the water i.e. paddle, otherwise you are at its mercy. If you travel faster than the water you are in control.
Looks like good fun, wish I had a roof rack to throw the old polo bat on the car.
If they get out themselves, good luck, but why risk other lives to save deadsh!ts from their own stupidity?
Look I’m no fan of the nanny state around floods these days with cops stopping you going within 500m of a gated level crossing, but what’s happening in this video is just stupid. A bunch of total ignorant arseholes. Look at this: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-ambulance-helicopter-paramedic-mick-wilson-died-after-winch-line-in-rescue-operation-in-kangaroo-valley-was-cut/story-e6freuy9-1226230364369 and then look at this http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/man-23-drowns-trying-to-swim-yarra-river/story-e6frf7jo-1226114525302
Stupidy like this can kill you, and can kill those who try to help.
Looks like good fun. If one of them is injured or dies, well, they knew what they were doing and no real sympathy from me.
Thumper said :
“My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives!”
There. That’s *my* classic contribution to the literary arts, regarding water/floods! Hahahahaha! Put that in your poetry pipe and smoke it! 🙂
Henry82 said :
lol, WTF are security going to do. not like they will be able to catch them.
Next students will be wearing balaclavas so they don’t get their enrollments cancelled.
Just got this email.
——————-
Good afternoon
Yesterday ANU Security attended Sullivans Creek to ask a number of people to immediately stop ‘rafting’ down the flooded waterway. The police were called, but the people undertaking this dangerous activity dispersed before police attendance was required.
This is a highly irresponsible activity in the circumstances. Swimming and playing in and around swollen creeks and rivers is very dangerous. People must heed the warnings issued by the Emergency Services Agency, as well as ANU security.
Sullivans Creek is, at the moment, full of muddy storm water with strong currents. It also has many hidden hazards, such as fallen tree branches and rocks, as well as floating debris. The people involved in yesterday’s actions are extremely lucky they did not cause themselves, or others coming to their aid, serious injury or worse.
Further rain is forecast for this weekend. ANU Security will be monitoring use of Sullivans Creek over the weekend given the potential for repeat flooding.
May I take this opportunity to thank all staff and students who are taking appropriate precautions in the current conditions. I hope you all stay safe and dry over the weekend.
Regards
Ian Young
Vice-Chancellor