Floods earn radio awards

Press, 19 December 1988, Page 16

Floods earn radio awards

Radio New Zealand’s community station in Greymouth has been honoured with two special awards, recognising “outstanding performance” during the September floods in the area. For his bravery in rescuing three people from chest-high floodwaters, the station manager, Mr Chris Rowland, has become only the third per-

son awarded Radio New Zealand’s highest honour, a silver medal. Radio Scenicland and its staff were also presented with the directorgeneral’s award for outstanding achievement, the last to be awarded under the old Radio New Zealand structure. The former directorgeneral, now chief executive of Radio New Zea-

land, Ms Beverley Wakem, made the presentations, saying that during one of the worst floods in Greymouth’s history, the station’s performance had been “superlative in overcoming flood-related difficulties in staying on air.” “That you not only managed to maintain a radio service for a community that could have been starved of essential

information was an achievement in itself. But the technical ingenuity, long hours, and personal sacrifices of all permanent and supporting staff is recognised.” Ms Wakem paid particular tribute to Mr Rowland, who used a roll of cheesecloth as a lifeline to reach three people trapped in the ground floor shop beneath the station.

The chest-high floodwaters at the shop entrance were too swift for a jetboat to mount a rescue, and Mr Rowland forced his way through to haul the three people to safety one at a time. “Mr Rowland’s actions were exemplary, and his leadership in maintaining a radio service to a hardhit community was outstanding,” she said.