If there is such a thing as a typical Kiwi bloke then Aunty Rata likes to think it is Wayne Stevens. Wayne is one of those guys who epitomises the expression “flat out like a lizard drinking”. Behind the laid back, casual, understated exterior there lurks a lively intelligence, practical nouse and well developed sense of mischief, not to mention a heart of gold. By far the coolest thing about Wayne though is that he makes a difference to peoples lives.
Wayne is a long-time member of WTMC. He was President for half a decade before sneaking off to get married and have kids. He doesn’t get out on so many cycling and kayaking trips these days but manages to keep up his Land Search and Rescue work and has trained as a paramedic so he can help out with the St John’s Ambulance in Wellington.
Aunty Rata has fond memories of going on her first club kayaking trip with Wayne. It was a rare calm day in the capital and we were able to paddle across Wellington harbour and convince the council security people to turn a blind eye to us camping beside the Hutt River before paddling back via the Chocolate Fish Café the next day. Wayne had to give me a bit of a tow on Sunday afternoon as my arms weren’t quite up to it and we had a stiff head wind to contend with. It was a fantastic trip, one that spurred me on to go kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park.
How did you come to get involved with Land SAR Wellington?
When I was at Vic Uni in the mid 1980s I discovered tramping in a big way. The Vic Uni tramping club was really into SAR – maybe it was the free pizza or sausage at the end of the SAR operations that lead to quite a few Varsity club members joining SAR. Anyway I just tagged along and 28 years later I’m still doing SAR.
You’ve been participated in lots of searches, is there one that particularly stands out, and if so why?
The Wilkinson search on the Southern Crossing in Jan 2005 was particularly memorable. Louise Wilkinson had attempted the Southern Crossing and had taken really poor gear and either hadn’t checked the weather forecast or had discounted it. Anyway, she got stranded on the side of Mt Atkinson in the middle of the Southern Crossing with hypothermia and had sent a text to her brother asking for help. The Westpac rescue helicopter was sent in to extract her but couldn’t get near her due to the high winds, (and in it was so rough that a couple of crew members on the helicopter threw up). So anyway, ground teams were flown in and I led the first Wellington team that was sent in.
A couple of police members from the Wairarapa managed to locate her but they were not equipped to stay with her. We managed to fly as far as Quoin Ridge in probably the roughest ride in a helicopter I’ve ever experienced but we managed to get on the ground and scrambled along the Southern Crossing to locate Tracy. That night it poured down – the bridge at Otaki Forks was washed away and there were some floods in the Hutt Valley. My Olympus tent collapsed at one stage and we had water flowing through the tent (it was a memorable night). The following day we were relieved by another team and spent the night at Alpha Hut. On the third day we had a large group of searchers at the hut and we carried Louise by stretcher to a spot on False Spur where we could just manage to get a helicopter in and get her out.
Are there any common mistakes trampers who get lost, make when they head out into the hills?
Lack of preparation, prior to heading off, is probably one of the most common mistakes. Good planning – taking the right gear, having appropriate skills (bushcraft, navigation etc), looking at the weather forecasts and changing plans accordingly is key to making sure you have a good time.
What are the 3 key things trampers can do when they head off on trips that would make searching for them easier?
(i) Good intentions that are left with a family or friend who can notify us when somebody is overdue.
(ii) We typically search the huts first (important to fill in those log books). Then main tracks, side tracks, and rivers. If you are on one of these we will find you. If you are wondering around off track in the bush, then it is a lot harder to find somebody.
(iii) When things go wrong acting calmly – i.e. it’s not the end of the world to be a day or so late out. Sure, there could be some embarrassment but everybody makes a mistake at some point in their lives. It’s about dealing with the situation you are in, in a calm and collected way so whatever has gone wrong doesn’t lead to an even bigger problem.
You are a trained paramedic and you help out with the Wellington Free Ambulance Service on Friday nights, what do you enjoy most about this work?
It’s great just putting something back into the community. When we go to patients they are often having their worst, or one of the worst, moments in their life. It’s good to help them out – people are just incredibly grateful for the help that you provide as a paramedic. Sure while car crashes, cardiac arrests, delivering babies etc are the high profile things we do, we also help out some of the most vulnerable in our society such as elderly who are living alone who have had a fall.
Some of these jobs are not that pleasurable – I went to one elderly lady who had forgotten to use the toilet for some months (I can still smell the smell even today… ), but it’s really good to help such persons out and give them the same level of care as a wealthy or prominent person.
You’ve been a member of WTMC for a long time, any highlights?
Gee there are quite a few highlights. I’ve particularly liked the kayaking trips to Fiordland or around the Sounds. I’ve also really enjoyed the social side of the club. While having 3 young kids at present stops me from going out on all those backcountry tramping and kayaking trips that I used to do, I still long for those days in the Club and keen to get back out.
You’ve done loads of cycling, kayaking and tramping trips both here and overseas, where is your favourite spot for outdoor adventures?
While I’ve tramped, cycled and kayaked in numerous places around the world my favourite is definitely Fiordland. I’ve done a couple of 2 week sea kayaking trips down there years ago. I really loved the remoteness (it feels like you are in one of the most remote spots on the planet) and the scenery is just fantastic.
Do you think tramping clubs are still relevant in 2011?
Yep, definitely. Clubs are the best way to acquire the skills for looking after oneself in the backcountry and also to meet people with similar values or interests. There is always a WTMC trip going almost every weekend of the year; there is great variety in the type of trips or activities and the transport is sorted. If you try to arrange things with friends it can take a lot more to organise (ie trying to get the same free time). Having club transport is also a big benefit and shares the costs and driving.