Thursday 11/10/2012. Bush Search and Rescue was called out for a 10pm departure from Melbourne.
Fri 12/10. 18 BSAR members travelled to Licola to render assistance. The BSAR group returned to Melbourne at 4pm.
Victoria experienced unseasonal cold winter conditions, including snow in alpine regions. A high school group of 11 students and 3 staff was stranded by bad weather and snow while on a bushwalk in the Wellington Plains region of Gippsland. The group was successfully evacuated by the SES and Victoria Police using oversnow transport.
Additional information
The group used a satellite phone to contact Police. This enabled them to communicate the condition of their party and receive advice on how to best handle the situation. The ability to communicate using a satellite phone provides significant advantages compared to using a PLB or Spot.
While cold temperatures and snow were unusual for the time of year, the weather event was forecast.
External links
- Students rescued after freezing night, The Age
- Stranded school group being rescued in Victoria’s Alpine Forest, Herald Sun
- Police rescue stranded school group – Alpine Forest,Victoria Police Online News Centre
- Students rescued from forest freeze, Lilydale Yarra Valley Leader
- Mooroolbark College students “in good spirits”, Knox Weekly
Last Updated on February 17, 2021