Treasure Beach…A Community of Modern Day Heroes

After hearing Kory South’s story of helping to save a family from drowning and also putting measures in place to help families who have lost their fathers, we had no doubt that Kory South was indeed a community hero, but what made his story even greater was the fact that his entire community pitches in to help others too. Read the heroic story of Kory South, and the heroes of the little community of Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth.

“I have been living in Treasure Beach for twenty one years.  Since 1962 we have lost ninety one guys to the sea.  Most of them are fishermen and at least ten persons are visitors to the area… about four years ago a family of five from Mandeville were swimming right here on the Calabash Bay Beach when they got caught up in some rip current.  My staff ran to get me and immediately I ran to help; the mother and one child were already out of the water. There were two kids left with the father who was nowhere in sight; they were in a lot of trouble.  It was myself and two local guys who went in to get them.  We got out the girl first and then the boy who was about ten years old.  He had already taken in a lot of salt water.  The locals knows CPR so they performed same on him.  I then rushed him to the Black River Hospital where he spent a night.  We had gotten some boat captains who went out looking for the father.  They are normally great with searches. The father was about thirty eight years old and looked quite fit.  I believed he saw his whole family in trouble and panicked… Unfortunately he did not make it out alive… The morning following the rescue I woke early and went looking for him and we eventually did.  After the ordeal, we got some financial support from the locals and visitors staying in the area for the family as the father was the breadwinner for the family.  Every time we lose someone like this, the community gets involved.

The rip current will feel like it is pulling you out to sea but you have to be a little patient and it will bring you right back in. You can’t fight it. I know it’s easier said than done but the worst that could happen is the current bringing you out to sea.  It is best to be patient and let the current release you on the rocks. Then, you can walk away with just bruises. Most people who live here can swim and are lifeguard certified. There was a group of doctors who came here from Bellevue Hospital in the U.S.A to train young residents to perform CPR.  This is also how they obtained their lifeguard certification. I would advise visitors to listen to the locals here as they know the beach very well.

We are trying to build a memorial for the fishermen who lost their lives out at sea because they are a big part of the history here.  It is a project I want to work on but need funding.  The good thing is, I have set up a radio system to help fishermen out at sea. Once you are eight miles out you lose cell services… I have a repeater station for Marine VHF radios.  I can now talk to my office while being twenty five miles out at sea.  This is also for the fishermen as well.  It was first installed through a grant that the Coastal Authority had received. That money has ran out so now, with this one, I have taken over and is paying the licensing fee.  The local fishermen would give me a little money from time to time.  It is beautiful and will help to save a lot of lives.’’

Through the Fire…Lessons from a Firefighter and a Man of God

Patrick McCallum is without a doubt what we could call, a modern day hero. Patrick, who is also a minister of religion, has been with the Jamaica Fire Brigade for the last 25 years. Though rewarding, this father of two has to admit it’s been a rough journey and credits God for bringing him though. He has lost colleagues while on the job, help to rescue many persons from fires and car accidents but still somehow manages to be a dedicated father of two and a Youth Director at his church. Read how this brave man from St. Elizabeth made it through the huge Carib 5 and Petrojam refinery fires and countless other fires to make it to Assistant Supervisor.

Patrick Collum stands by his department’s fire truck.

Patrick Callum has seen many fires in his twenty five years of serving in The Jamaica Fire Brigade…fires of all kinds and magnitude. From responding to the fire at Carib 5 and Petrojam Refinery, to extricating victims from cars that had been involved in accidents, rendering first aid and rescuing persons from burning buildings, this forty seven year old husband, minister of religion, youth director at church, and father of two said he did it all through the grace of God.  Patrick told us of his experiences working with the Jamaica Fire Brigade, his challenges, lost, moves up the ranks and how giving up for him is never an option. ‘’I have always wanted to be a firefighter. I remember getting excited as a youth attending Jose Marti School, when I heard the sirens and saw the men in their uniforms and mask.  Too many times they were called to put out bush fires close to the school.  I knew then I would be a part of the Fire Brigade.  I joined the service January 1^st 1990. At this time the service was short of manpower so I underwent some rough and rugged training. We undergo the natural training like any other military except for the use of guns.”

Patrick Callum, man of God, fire fighter and youth leader.

Patrick soon moved from St. Elizabeth to experience firefighting in the city. “ I worked at all the sub stations in Kingston…York Park, Half Way Tree, Rollington Town, Trench Town, Port Royal and Stony Hill.” It wasn’t long that his first real test came when he was just twenty one years old and working at York Park Fire Station.” I was conducting gate duty and was not yet privileged to go on the truck. I would watch as the trucks came in and out and wished I was going out and then it finally happened…my unit was the first responder at the LOJ complex at 7 Norman Road…That was my first major fire.  When I got there the older firemen said ‘come boy, you have to learn to fight fire; you are no longer in the country’ I was scared.  I heard electrical wires popping over my head while on my knees helping to dose the fire. ‘This is the real thing,’ one person said, ‘Face it!’ I did. I gained confidence. I was proud of myself.”

In 1995 Patrick was promoted to the rank of corporal, then another promotion to sergeant.  Things were riding high for Patrick but then his scariest moment came. “I was at the Rollington Town fire station. I heard a loud explosion, then saw a ball of fire in the downtown Kingston area. I got my gears together and went to start the truck. A minute after I heard an announcement on the radio ‘all unit respond to the fire at Petrojam Refinery.’ When I got on the scene it was the scariest sight. People were running from the fire as far as Tivoli and we were running into it. The heat was intense.  We were fighting to keep some LPG tanks cool.  They had to be at a certain temperature and if it got out of control a lot of people would have been history…a lot of our men were passing out from dehydration. Even though I was a driver I had to help with the operation.  I was responsible for my crew, equipment and pedestrian -full responsibility.”

As scary as the Petrojam fire was, nothing scarred him more than losing his colleague in the Carib 5 fire.  ‘’I lost my friend and co-worker in that fire.  It was a dark moment in the history of the Fire Brigade. He was a good friend and worker, three men went in but only two came out. He was found after a big explosion; he was burnt beyond recognition.” Patrick admits that though this job is very dangerous “I signed up for it and at the end of the day we have to give our all. I have also seen many civilians perish, including babies, those are the saddest moments, it plays on your mind.  A house can be replaced but not lives.”

Patrick was all smiles when he shared with us his other promotion to the rank of District Officer. ‘’I was in charge of a station and a full crew of men…It was a great feeling.” It was not long after that Patrick was blessed with yet promotion – assistant supervisor. I applied.  “I had applied for the position many  I was still not successful. I kept trying even though I told myself I would never submit another application. I remember a friend in the service came to me and said ‘never let the system get you down; keep applying and don’t stop until you achieve what you want.’ I applied for the position at the St. Catherine headquarters.  I did the assessment, was successful and was called for the interview.  On October 1^st 2014 I was promoted to the rank of Assistant Supervisor and was transferred to St. Catherine. This was an high point for me. I felt like my work over the years were paying off. I felt accomplished. “

Witnessing death is never easy but Patrick says God has always been his strength through it all. ‘’I am a die-hearted Christian and  a minister of religion and this is what inspires me when I feel discouraged.  I preach at church and conducts baptisms and funerals.  I do most things with the exception of conducting marriages as I am not a licensed marriage officer. I was also the men’s president and I sang on the choir.” To add to his achievements, Mr. Callum recently acquired a certificate in mass casualty.  “The course was conducted by the Pan American Health Organization and prepared us  in the case of a mass disaster like an earthquake.  I am also pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology, and minoring in Counselling at International College of Counselling and Ministry.” he said with humility. ‘’I am no longer a little  country boy from St. Elizabeth who was scared of my first fire.  I am making the best out of life, but what I have achieved is all because of God. While I encourage young people to enter this kind of service, I am encouraging all Jamaicans near and far to put God first because with God in the vessel you can smile at any storm, at any fire, no matter how they are raging…he will calm any situation.’’

Callum shows us his recently acquired certificate

Genuine Love from an Unlikely Source

When we first met her, she was very quiet. Most of the talking was done by her sister Alicia, but as soon as we started talking about music, Shadeeza came out! She popped open her laptop and went to YouTube to play her favourite songs for us – all happy songs. We also soon found out that another of Shadeeza’s passion is dancing, because she danced without any inhibitions and even began teaching us a few moves.

Shadeeza teaching us a few of the dance moves she’s learnt over the years

She’s actually an excellent teacher, she took her time to teach us and even encourage us when we got the moves right with “You got it!” Her happiness is infectious; there is no way you could be down around her.

We stood and watched her with amazement; here is someone who society has frowned upon because of her disability – yet here she is loving and welcoming complete strangers. Shadeeza Buckley is 18 years old living with Down’s syndrome and is one of Digicel Jamaica’s two winners in its Heroes Day competition where persons were asked to nominate the hero in their life.

Shadeeza is quite the comedian, she had us laughing uncontrollably for most of the day

Shadeeza was nominated by her sister Alicia because of her love for and willingness to help others despite how society treats her. “I don’t know how she does it…the hardest part is society and people accepting her…we see the stares…it’s hard…but I want to be happy like her…I wouldn’t be who I am without her”. In just the few hours we spent with her, we could totally relate and share her sister’s sentiments. Shadeeza has changed our lives, and we too, want to be just like her – free and happy.

Shadeeza was trained at the Institute for Workforce Education and Development so she qualified to work as a housekeeper. However, the job search has not been going well even though Shadeeza excelled at many things in her class, even over her other classmates.  Even with training in housekeeping, Shadeeza says she wants to become a teacher like her mother. In fact, she has helped her mother in class a few times and has taught her 2 year old nephew everything he knows. “He knows his numbers, the alphabet and Spanish because of Shadeeza,” exclaimed Alicia.

Shadeeza has great plans – plans to work and when she does, she will buy herself a car. “When I get my car I (will) carry my sister and family to (a) hotel for the summer!” She loves hotels, and lit up when she spoke about her recent trip to a hotel where she rode on the water slide and got to swim. “I love cheesecake and swimming and hotels!” We felt honoured to have met such a beautiful individual and we are truly grateful that our lives have been touched by this loving, caring individual. Shadeeza Buckley, our hero.

Shadeeza says she’s going to be a rockstar when she grows up 🙂

A Father’s Heroic Journey – The Story of Anthony Daley

They say there’s nothing like the bond between a father and daughter – a saying that is confirmed when you hear Mishell speak about her father Anthony. In fact, when our team contacted Mishell to advise her that her entry was selected as one of the winners in the Digicel Heroes Day Competition she immediately burst into tears saying her father really needs the money and that, “he deserves it and so much more.”

A few days later, we visited Mishell to get her full story on why she considers her father to be her hero. Anthony is a single father of two who has done everything he could to support his children. When the mothers of his two children left, he could have migrated and send beautiful presents for his kids, but he knew his physical presence was so much more important, so he stayed in Jamaica juggling farming and craft work to send his children to school. Mishell says her father did everything for her that a mother would, he combed her hair every day for school, taught her how to cook and importantly, he taught her how to love- especially how to love her mother with whom she is now struggling to have a relationship.. Mishell, her dad and her brother were all managing until one ill-fated day Anthony met in an accident, which resulted in him being hospitalised for 6 months.

Mishell Shows Us the Scars Her Father Received After His Accident

As Mishell told her story between tears, Anthony chimed in and shared that when he finally made it out the hospital and saw his children, he was so badly bruised that Mishel didn’t recognize him – so much so that when she saw him, she expressed, “You’re not my father,” then took off running. “I had to call her by her pet name an’ seh is me,” said Anthony. On realising it was really her dad, Mishell turned back and hugged him tightly as she thought she had lost her dad forever – she was told that her father had died.  Anthony also added that when he returned home, he cried when he saw the condition his children was living in – the house was empty, their uniforms were dirty and Mishell’s only pair of shoes was so badly damaged he had to use fishing line and a make-shift needle and sew the shoes back together with his one able hand, since the other was injured in the accident.

As if that wasn’t enough, very shortly after, the Daley family lost their home to fire.

Mishell breaks down as she recalls all her father has done to provide for them

It is also said the family that prays together, stays together and so, with a renewed faith in God, they managed to find a way to make it work despite their many adversities.  Today, Anthony and his children credit their survival as help from God, as he is now able to the buy materials he needs to restart his craft business. “Mi mek hammock and curtains and bag a tings and I just want to be able to make them again and sell so I can get a house.”

Mishell is now married with her own family, but has not left her father’s side. She speaks very highly of her father every day, “They say a man can’t grow a girl child but my dad did it…my father is my mother, father, brother…everything in one – he’s my hero!”