Gentle giant’s passing a loss for Sunshine Coast

John Gallina, the man at the helm of Sunshine Coast’s disaster management program, has been hailed a visionary, a logistical expert, a calming influence under high pressure, a man of compassion, a consummate professional and a gentle giant.

Mr Gallina passed away unexpectedly Saturday September 23,  while holidaying with family on Hamilton Island.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said Mr Gallina’s passing was a great loss to the Sunshine Coast community.

He offered his condolences to John’s wife Fiona and their extended family and friends – many of whom had welcomed Fiona into the  community over the past few years after she relocated her family to the Sunshine Coast.

“John’s leadership has contributed immensely to our community’s preparedness and resilience during natural disaster,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“At the forefront of John’s mind was preparing for any disaster, whether that be man-made or as a result of Mother Nature’s fury.

“Thanks to John’s first-hand experience and logistical expertise, our front line emergency services, our council and our community are much better prepared.

“John was a gentleman whose passion for the region was exemplified through his service in protecting Queenslanders through his service with Queensland Fire and Rescue, as well as his work coordinating Sunshine Coast Council’s disaster response.

“Council’s DisasterHub is a direct result of John’s foresight and his commitment to keeping us safe.

“ He understood our community needed to access real-time online emergency information and the platform was recognised with a 2016 Resilient Australia Award by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.

“DisasterHub is now the source of trusted information for locals and media during times of disaster.

“ John’s vision inspired many around the nation to improve their responses to disaster management and has attracted considerable attention from South East Asia and Europe.

“John was also instrumental in the development of the CoastAlert notification service, built into the SCCApp, which sends alerts to phones and tablets.

“It ensures people are informed as soon as possible when severe weather is approaching, flood waters are rise or when other disasters are occurring on the Sunshine Coast.

“John was pleased and proud to be able to reach more people with this message service and wanted to see more people download the app so important safety messages reached our community.

“During times of crisis, John was the person you wanted by your side. He showed great respect and honour for all with whom he worked and, in turn, drew out their best.

“His personal and work relationships were full of integrity and care. He would celebrate your successes and support you through times of trial.

“While he knew the importance of technology to improve disaster management, he firmly believed it was more important to build the relationships at organisational and personal levels that would provide the best coordinated response when needed.

“It is, perhaps, due to the quality of the relationships he developed, John will be most missed, followed closely by his skills and professionalism.

“John’s thoroughness and ability to assess any emergency situation, to provide advice you could trust, to  make the necessary decisions to keep our community informed and safe, and most importantly his calm disposition while carrying out his duties, were appreciated.

“He was a steady hand during disasters and provided that level head during incident management.

“John’s legacy is a safer community. I doubt there is a greater gift anyone could offer.”

Queensland Police Service Sunshine Coast Superintendent Darryl Johnson said Mr Gallina’s passing was tragic news.

“John has been a friend to the Queensland Police Service for many years through his work in the Disaster Management portfolio,” Superintendent Johnson said.

“To say John was a leader in his field across the State is an understatement.

“He was pivotal in placing the Sunshine Coast Council at the forefront of Disaster Management arrangements.

“But beyond his work, he was a friend and confidante to many across all agencies.

“We are much poorer for his passing and our entire Police District’s thoughts and prayers are with Fi and his family.

“He was a good man, compassionate and liked by all and a great ambassador for the Sunshine Coast.”

Mr Gallina has been Sunshine Coast Council’s Disaster Management Team Leader since 2012.

Prior to that he was Principal Frontline Emergency Consultant and Sunshine Coast Commander and Area Director with Queensland Fire and Rescue.