Tracking down the lost and the disorientated

After almost three decades of nurturing rhododendrons at Pukeiti Gardens, Andrew Brooker is set to see more of Egmont National Park as search and rescue volunteer.

Brooker’s spare time will be spent helping find lost trampers, not rare native plant species.

‘‘I know Pukeiti really well after working here for 28 years but I’ve never got to know the rest of the park,’’ the Pukeiti Gardens man- ager said on Tuesday.

Brooker and fellow LandSAR volunteer recruit Fleur Lonsdale are among a small group undergoing probationary training to become fully fledged members of the Taranaki search and rescue organisation.

Since 2011 Taranaki LandSAR volunteers have been involved in 737 rescues on Mt Taranaki, and Egmont National Park.

Lonsdale is a former British Army cadet officer who lived in the French Alps before arriving in New Plymouth.

Both had an urge to upgrade their outdoor skills, and also want to give something back to the community.

‘‘That was part of the buzz of joining up with LandSAR. I was looking around for a community group and this suited me the best,’’ Brooker said.

Brooker was encouraged to enquire about search and rescue after helping find a visitor to Pukeiti who became lost.

The incident motivated Brooker to join LandSAR.

Lonsdale trained as a cadet officer in the British Army before moving to the French Alps.

‘‘I met a lot of people who were involved in mountain rescue, and had friends who survived accidents in the mountains.

‘‘When I arrived in New Plymouth I heard LandSAR were looking for volunteers.

‘‘It looked a good way of improving my outdoor skills, as well as give back to society.’’

The different range of environments - from coastal and urban areas to mountain and bush - volunteers are expected to search in also motivated the pair.

Brooker and Lonsdale have almost completed the three components of probationary training - tracking, search technique, and first aid - as well as an overnight bushcraft assessment, and helicopter winch training, needed to become a LandSAR volunteer.

‘‘It hasn’t been easy, right from the start the emphasis has been getting the training right,’’ Lonsdale said.

‘‘It’s about working from the bottom up, not from the top down, to ensure everyone is covered.’’