24 November 2024 – A Sunday Like No Other
At 5:25 p.m., I got a text about the stranding. Without hesitation, I grabbed my gear, picked up a friend, and headed straight there—we were only 10 minutes away. (I left my husband in charge of bedtime for our 5-year-old!)
When we arrived, there were already hundreds of people on the scene. Most of the whales had been refloated, but the atmosphere was intense. I found the first Project Jonah volunteer I could—a guy whose name I never caught—who gave me a quick piece of advice: emotions are running high, so help keep people calm and assist wherever possible.
As I moved from whale to whale, I saw that small groups had formed around each one, ensuring they were kept cool and comfortable. I jumped in wherever I was needed—hauling buckets of water, digging trenches, answering questions, offering advice, and even standing in the human chain to guide refloated whales back out to sea. I clapped, I cheered, I hugged both friends and strangers.
One Project Jonah volunteer stood out—she had a strong, clear voice and was giving instructions to the crowd. Her direction was much needed.
I also noticed a lot of people instinctively touching the whales, sometimes more than necessary. I gently reminded a woman to minimize contact (though I didn’t get the friendliest response—even while wearing my Project Jonah high-vis!). I also asked a few people to avoid sitting or kneeling on the whales’ pectoral fins, and thankfully, they were more receptive.
As more people arrived, the scene became chaotic. In a situation like this, where everyone wants to help, guiding them in the right way is a challenge. But overall, it was a success. Many whales made it back to sea, and while we did lose a few, I’m grateful we didn’t lose more.
One thing that upset me, though, was seeing parents encouraging their children to pose for photos next to the deceased whales. It didn’t sit right with me.
By the time I left, more Project Jonah volunteers had arrived, which was reassuring. Since then, several people have reached out to ask how to get involved, and I’ve shared the link to Project Jonah’s training courses. I’ve even seen the local community pages sharing it too—so hopefully, this experience inspires more people to join the cause.
