Brunswick Valley Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW

21/10/2026

🚨 Early morning rescue at Newrybar

At 1.45am this morning, VRA Rescue Brunswick Byron was activated after a heavy vehicle left the Pacific Highway and came to rest on Watsons Lane, Newrybar.

On arrival, crews found a truck on its side below the Pacific Highway overpass, with the driver trapped inside.

Our qualified rescue operators used e-draulic rescue tools and a reciprocating saw to create sufficient space through the roof of the cab for an extrication pathway. Once NSW Ambulance had stabilised the patient, our operators worked alongside paramedics to release and extricate the driver.

This was a multi-agency incident involving:
🚑 NSW Ambulance
🚒 Fire and Rescue NSW Station 213 Bangalow & Fire and Rescue NSW Station 316 Goonellabah Hazmat
🚒 NSW RFS Newrybar & Clunes Brigades
🚓 Tweed-Byron Police District

This was the most recent of 11 incidents attended by our squad in the past week across the Byron Shire Council area, including two vertical rescues.

Thank you to all crews for their teamwork in challenging circumstances, and to our volunteers who answered the call in the early hours.

Our thoughts are with the driver, and we wish them well in their recovery.

VRA Rescue NSW - Region North VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom Echo Publications Bay FM 99.9 - Byron Bay Australia Jihad Dib MP Justine Elliot MP

09/10/2026

⚠️ TRAFFIC ALERT | PACIFIC HIGHWAY, OCEAN SHORES: Friday 9th October, 5.50pm

Motorists are advised to expect traffic delays on the Pacific Highway near Ocean Shores as crews work to clear the scene of an earlier motor vehicle accident.

🚗 Please allow extra travel time, reduce your speed and follow directions from emergency services and traffic controllers.

For the latest traffic conditions, visit Live Traffic NSW

Stay safe on the roads.

07/09/2026

Want to do something that matters right here in the Byron Shire?

VRA Rescue is recruiting new volunteers.

Our local team trains to support the community when people need skilled rescue help most. You do not need rescue experience. VRA provides the training, and you will learn as part of a capable, supportive team.

Membership does require regular training, commitment and genuine availability, but you can ask us anything before deciding.

Interested in a no-pressure conversation? Send this page a direct message.

Ready to take the next step? Visit www.rescue.org.au, select Volunteering and lodge an Expression of Interest. You must be at least 18 to join.

Serving Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, and our communities across Byron Shire.

30/08/2026

Fantastic news from the Northern Rivers!

The 33-year-old man reported missing from Broadwater has been located alive.

Over a number of days, VRA Rescue NSW – Region North crews from Brunswick Valley and Casino Rescue Squads assisted with the search, working alongside NSW Police, NSW SES and NSW RFS personnel.

A great outcome following the combined efforts of everyone involved.

We wish the man and his family all the very best following his safe location.

VRA Rescue NSW
Casino Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Brunswick Valley Rescue Squad - VRA Rescue NSW
Richie Williamson MP
Tamara Smith, MP
The Northern Rivers Times
The Indy

18/08/2026

🚨Rescue Assist - Cosy Corner, Tallow Beach, Byron Bay:
This morning, VRA Rescue NSW volunteers were activated to Cosy Corner at Tallow Beach, Byron Bay, to assist with the extraction of a patient who had fallen on rocks.

Our trained operators attended with rescue equipment and worked alongside NSW Ambulance and NSW Police to safely move the patient from the beach to a waiting road ambulance for transport to hospital.

Thank you also to the members of the public who stopped to assist and support the patient before emergency services arrived.

A great example of local emergency services and the community working together when help is needed.

We wish the patient a speedy recovery.

VRA Rescue NSW VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom VRA Rescue NSW - Region North Tweed-Byron Police District NSW Ambulance Echo Publications Byron Shire News Bay FM 99.9 - Byron Bay Australia Jihad Dib MP Justine Elliot MP Sarah Ndiaye Byron Shire Council

05/07/2026

04/07/2026

A busy day for our VRA Rescue volunteers, with crews called to two Road Crash Rescue incidents.

The first was this morning on the outskirts of Mullumbimby followed by a second callout this afternoon just south of Byron Bay, near Newrybar.

Our volunteers are on call 24/7, ready to respond when the community needs us most. If you see them out and about, give them a wave 👋

Byron Shire Council NBN Television Echo Publications Sarah Ndiaye Justine Elliot MP Jihad Dib MP Tweed-Byron Police District VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom

27/05/2026

A huge thank you to Commonwealth Bank for their generous $1,500 donation through the CommBank Community Donations Program.

VRA Rescue NSW Brunswick Valley is made up of 100% volunteers, and donations like this directly support our ability to respond to emergencies across our local community.

This contribution will be put towards replacing one of our defibrillators, also known as an AED, which is a vital piece of lifesaving equipment used during medical emergencies.

Thank you again CommBank Mullumbimby for helping us save lives locally.

24/05/2026

This afternoon, VRA Brunswick Valley Rescue Squad responded to a single motor vehicle accident in the vicinity of Gulgan Road.

Rescue operators utilised e-draulic rescue tools to extricate the occupant from the vehicle before they were conveyed to hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Our thoughts are with all involved.

A reminder to all motorists to drive to the conditions, particularly with wet roads across the region.

VRA Rescue NSW VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom VRA Rescue NSW - Region North NSW RFS - Mullumbimby Brigade Echo Publications Jihad Dib MP Justine Elliot MP Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service - Official Site Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service - Lismore Base Supporter Page

19/05/2026

VRA Rescue NSW was activated this evening to a flood rescue at Wooyung after a vehicle became stranded in flood water.

Our in-water flood rescue operators deployed using an Ark Angel raft to safely rescue the driver from the vehicle and bring them back to safety.

Please remember, there’s still a lot of water around: if it’s flooded, forget it.


VRA Rescue NSW Commissioner, Brenton Charlton VRA Rescue NSW Deputy Commissioner, Alix Thom VRA Rescue NSW - Region North Jihad Dib MP Justine Elliot MP Byron Shire Council Echo Publications