LOCAL rescue heroes Andrew Roberts and Scott Cunningham say they still vividly recall the Nardoo Creek rescue.
Both are adamant they were part of the effort that saw Paul Winter plucked from floodwaters. A video backs up up their memories of the evening.
Mr Roberts’ father, Gary, is in the chorus of Wedderburn people backing their local heroes.
“These young blokes are not looking for rewards but to see the Marong SES go to Sydney ... on taxpayer dollars ... to get an award for having done nothing is a disgrace. I am absolutely disgusted,” he told the Loddon Herald on Monday.
“This is the story of Wedderburn locals not the SES, apart from one volunteer.”
However, their versions are at odds with the official State Emergency Service stance on the rescue that came as the local SES unit had been stood down - member resignations and conflict between some unit members and SES heirarchy where operational disagreements had made the unit unviable.
“Recollections may vary,” was the response of one senior SES officer in the hours after a national award was accepted by the Marong SES unit. The January 2 rescue was one of five in Wedderburn during the first week of summer storm rescues.
The next day, after breaking news online reports by the Loddon Herald followed by national news coverage and a Victoria Police media conference outside Wedderburn police station with Sgt Ben Huisman, SES operations manager Brad Dalgleish said: “The most recent (rescue was) on January 2 where a car was swept off the road resulting in specially trained land based swift water rescue operators effecting a rescue and potentially saving the life of a male as his car was swept from the road.”
Last week, the SES said: “With one patient and their dog trapped inside the vehicle, James (Plowwright) sprinted along the bank with a personal floatation device and assisted others who had become trapped in the waist-deep water, while a crew of volunteers in a utility raced to get ahead of  the vehicle. Knowing the volunteer responders would likely only have one opportunity to access the patient with a rescue line, when the submerged vehicle briefly became snagged on debris in the creek, James tossed a line with precision into the flowing water, and successfully helped the driver to shore.
“The patient’s dog was also able to free itself from the vehicle and safely swim from the creek, when it was reunited with its owner.
“Both were safely brought to shore moments before the vehicle became fully submerged and washed further down the flooded creek.
“The success of this rescue highlights the teamwork, training and courage in the face of adversity of VICSES volunteers, and acknowledges their capacity to efficiently and effectively respond in high-stress and life-threatening situations.”
An Australia Maritime and Safety Authority spokesperson said: “Each year, the NATSAR Council relies on nominations that identify individuals and groups that may be considered for a search and rescue award or commendation.” The professional volunteer category is a new section for “an individual or organisation ... trained within the search and rescue field or works in a search and rescue role”. 
- CHRIS EARL