Not critical of what those who did fly did. Surely Oakey has a call out mechanism? It will from now onwards, that's a fact! Seems crazy to have hangars full of aircraft whilst people were needing water in Condamine or dying on roofs in Grantham. Regardless of it being a training base, the aircraft could have been generated and on an appropriate NTM to assist....name me one of the personnel there, military, reservist, contractor or APS that wouldn't have wanted to help!
As for not have winches....so what....when people are dying, a marlow rope with a figure 8 and a a harness attached to the cargo hook is surely an acceptable solution which can be appropriately risk managed......or would we rather watch people die with a dozen Kiowas, half a dozen Blackhawks and a 412 tucked up in bed.....