Leading TVH Queensland Disaster Recovery: A Testament to Teamwork and Community Spirit

Over the past few months, I've been deeply entrenched in recovery efforts following a slew of natural disasters in Queensland. Fighting to get telecommunication networks online during cyclones, tornadoes and flooding has involved immense sacrifice and struggle. In 20 years of business, I’ve never felt pressure like it. But I’ve also never felt so much pride - in the TVH team and the heart-warming community spirit that has emerged during such trying times.

It's incredibly difficult to put such chaotic and catastrophic events into words, but I know I need to. Firstly, I want to raise awareness about how devastating these natural disasters have been for the people of Queensland. I also want to offer a reminder that shared purpose is powerful and makes things meaningful – even business. Hundreds of other people’s stories deserve to be heard, but for now, this is mine. So, let’s dive in.

The journey began in November when I was in Queensland to streamline TVH’s operations. I met lots of new faces, and we were creating fantastic momentum. I hadn’t seen my family much lately, so we flew to Brisbane for the week before the company Christmas party. That’s when Cyclone Jasper struck Cairns, setting off a chain of events that would require all our energy and resources.

Cyclone Jasper - Cairns

I received a call from our customer - one of the largest telecommunications network providers - and was requested to fly to Cairns immediately. I promptly left my family in Brisbane and flew to Cairns. Our task was clear: restore vital communication infrastructure across the region, ensuring that communities remained connected during the crisis.

The cyclone came and went, but then there was a deluge of rain for days - so much rain I forgot what the sun was like.

A whirlwind of activity followed, with teams working tirelessly to deploy and refuel generators, overcome logistical hurdles, and navigate treacherous conditions while flying in personnel and coordinating with government agencies and emergency services. As the days wore on, we worked around the clock. I was part of a daily group call referred to as “the bridge” from the crack of dawn until everyone was home safe, which was usually midnight or beyond. At one point, I remember a colleague noticing I had only eaten a blueberry muffin in a 24 to 48-hour period – there was simply no time for anything but the pursuit of our mission.

It was incredible witnessing the hospitality of North Queenslanders, who rallied together to support our efforts. From offering accommodation to sharing meals, their generosity was astounding. One local pub owner welcomed our exhausted team with open arms – even washing their clothes while they rested in the bistro with a steak and a beer, wearing nothing more than their underwear. These were all moments of profound humanity.

We did as much as possible on the ground, but when conditions got too dicey, we started using helicopters. At Bloomfield, we had to land on a sports ground, and a couple of teenagers with ATVs took our generators and fuel up the mountains. Another memory that will stick with me forever was when members of my team delivered a Christmas ham to some locals who had let us land in their backyard to access network huts.

The next challenge came in the dense Daintree Rainforest. The Mossman exchange faced a critical fuel shortage, threatening the entire fibre network's integrity. With only two hours before far North Queensland and some remote Islands would lose all communications, we had to find a solution without driving (due to landslides and flood waters) or flying (it was a no-fly day). Fortunately, a local ex-employee managed to contact a friend who lived nearby, and he literally waded through the water to break into the facility - with permission – using jerry cans of fuel to keep the generator running. The team’s resilience was remarkable; they spent 18 hours a day completely soaking wet. But when each generator started and another community was brought out of isolation and back online, you could almost feel a group applause. It was electric.

When all sites were operational again, it marked the end of a challenging yet rewarding chapter. We even celebrated over a few drinks before heading home on Christmas Eve (with a headache). But our troubles didn't end there. Just as we thought we could catch our breath on Christmas Day, I was informed that tornadoes were – without warning - tearing through Southeast Queensland. I remember looking at my wife, Jade, and simply saying, “I’ve got to go”, then boarding the first flight to Brisbane in the morning.

Tornadoes – Southeast Queensland

The damage caused by the tornadoes in Southeast Queensland was probably worse than Cyclone Jasper, catching us unprepared and with everyone on annual leave. I urgently called 15-20 staff, asking them to come in despite the holiday. It was mayhem as we scrambled to acquire equipment and struggled with staff shortages. Despite our efforts, site outages continued to build.

I remember someone reaching out on “the bridge” to say that if we lost two more critical sites that night, no one would be able to ring emergency services. I managed to contact Braden, my Southeast Queensland electrical supervisor, who, along with his colleague, came to the rescue despite being on holidays hours away. They had no idea at the time, but those two men effectively kept the Queensland emergency services network running that night.

The storms were just relentless. Every day, we would get ten sites back online, and then another storm would hit at night, knocking out another fifteen. We just couldn't make headway. It was such a pressure cooker.

On New Year’s Eve, my family were in Coolangatta. I said I’d visit, and that night I drove through one of the worst storms I’ve ever experienced. I remember pulling over, exhausted, crying and thinking, “Can these storms please stop?”. It was a melting pot of emotions - from the challenge and the stress to the achievement and the amazing people on my team. I spent the morning with my family, and by midday, I’d been called back to ground control.

Thankfully, the Southeast Queensland turmoil eventually passed by. I left on January 4th, coinciding with my daughter's 16th birthday. Thankfully, my Southeast Queensland team could take over, allowing me to surprise her at home. Then, after a couple of pre-arranged weeks working away for staff onboarding, came the discussion about Cyclone Kirrily hitting Townsville.

Cyclone Kirrily - Townsville

Having just returned home, I told Jade I wouldn’t need to join this recovery mission. I spent the first half of the week doing absolutely everything I could to assist our local Townsville team with fuel, generators and semi-trailers.

But then I got a call from our customer requesting that I run the recovery in person. So, I packed my bags and spent an eerie flight wondering why I was choosing to fly into the eye of a cyclone! Thankfully, when I arrived, the damage was nowhere near as bad as expected. After a night in a hotel with the cyclone moving over our heads, the team and I executed an incredibly efficient recovery.

When I got home from Townsville, people asked how I felt. My response was simply, “I’m looking forward to Christmas” – because that’s how much of a blur the whole festive season felt. But now the dust has quite literally settled, I'm filled with a profound sense of pride - not just in what we've accomplished, but in the strength of our community and the resilience of the human spirit.

Throughout these tumultuous times, I've been humbled by the dedication and commitment of my team. From sacrificing holiday plans to working tirelessly through the night, they exemplified the true meaning of teamwork and solidarity. I want to say a huge thank you again to every single one of them. It is amazing what you can achieve when everyone is motivated by a shared purpose instead of dollars and cents.

One thing I have learnt recently is that, in life, “You are exactly where you are meant to be”. The last few months have proved that to me. So, get comfortable, look for the purpose behind your situation and recognise that you are exactly where you are meant to be right now.

www.jleys.com.au