Country hospitality on show during Wheatbelt bushfires

Bushfires are scary and unpredictable, but when times get tough in regional WA, one thing's guaranteed – country communities will roll up their sleeves to support one another.

When smoke, ash and dust from a nearby bushfire began to blanket the town of Narembeen, teams from the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) made the call to evacuate the residential aged care facility at Narembeen Health Service.

Narembeen staff ensured the facility’s ten residents were safety evacuated. Even staff not rostered on that day came in to lend a hand.

Marie Hedley, Acting Health Service Manager for the Narembeen Health Service, praised staff for going above and beyond the call of duty.

"I'm so proud of the incredible team at Narembeen. They kept residents calm and informed every step of the way," Ms Hedley said.

"Staff accompanied the residents to help them comfortably settle into their new accommodation and ensure familiar faces were on hand to provide care."

Residents were evacuated to the Merredin Health Service, with crews from St John Ambulance WA assisting the transfer. Families and next of kin were kept well informed at every point in the process.

Kitchen staff in Merredin had a hearty meal waiting for the new arrivals after their journey. The staff also prepared refreshments for the St John Ambulance WA team before they returned to duty.

Narembeen Health Service resident Effie Wilson said she felt well looked after every step of the way.

"The staff did an excellent job and did all that they could to make us comfortable," Ms Wilson said.

Suzanne Taylor, Acting Operations Manager for the Eastern Wheatbelt said the Narembeen residents were warmly welcomed in Merredin.

"When I came in the next morning, they were sitting in the staff dining room enjoying breakfast together," Ms Taylor said.

"By morning teatime, it was a lovely cool day, so they were taken outside into the gazebo for board games and cards. Staff then put on a lovely lunch for them, complete with flowers on the table."

When the fire danger passed, residents were transferred back to Narembeen.

After they had settled back into their usual surroundings, the residents even remarked that they'd like to do it all again, just without the fire next time.