REBECCA Young has been praised for her efforts in assisting two stranded residents during the severe storm that caused major disruptions in the region.
In separate incidents, the State Member for Redlands went above and beyond to ensure the safe return of two people to Russell Island, earning praise for her hands-on approach.
In the first incident, Russell Island resident Joshua Doyle was left stranded overnight at the Weinam Creek ferry terminal after missing the last ferry home.
With no evacuation centres open in the area and ferry services cancelled due to the storm, Mr Doyle faced the prospect of being stuck at the ferry terminal for days.
But Mrs Young acted swiftly, coordinating with the Coast Guard and Queensland Police to bring him safely back to the island.
He managed to hitch a ride with police transporting emergency medication to Russell Island.
“He’s very relieved and happy that we could jump in and find a solution,” Mrs Young said.
“Thankfully we were able to act quickly to get Joshua the help he needed.”
In the second case, a man who had just returned from a funeral in New Zealand found himself stranded at the airport after his phone died, preventing him from contacting his partner or arranging transport home.
His partner, who had seen reports of another stranded traveller being helped by Mrs Young, reached out to the MP for assistance.
Without hesitation, Mrs Young again sprang into action, personally searching for the man in the car park.
After locating him, she again coordinated with Queensland Police and the Coast Guard to ensure his safe journey back to Russell Island, despite the challenging weather conditions.
“She isn’t at home waiting the storm out like most but rather putting herself in potential danger to help her people,” the man’s partner Steven Uruamo said.
“This is the representative we need and deserve.”
Both incidents come amid ongoing disruptions caused by severe weather in the Redlands area, which has left many residents cut off due to ferry cancellations.
Meanwhile, a young boy escaped serious injury after a tree fell onto the van where he was sleeping, in a terrifying incident that could have ended in tragedy.
The incident occurred on Russell Island during strong winds, crushing the parked vehicle.
The boy, who was asleep in the front at the time, was rescued unhurt.
A spokeswoman for Queensland Police said they were not called out to the incident.
