In 2017, Australian-born James Byrne joins the Youth With A Mission medical ship as deck crew, bound for Papua New Guinea. As they deliver basic healthcare to remote villages, James witnesses first-hand the fragility of survival and the extraordinary power of people united in purpose.
But two years later, a crisis strikes closer to home. When monsoonal rains swamp his hometown of Townsville, James rallies with the local volunteers to rescue stranded families, clear wreckage, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with neighbours through long nights of uncertainty.
As they rebuild a devastated community, James realises that, from open seas to flooded streets, disasters are never isolated. They ripple through communities shaped by history, decisions, and the courage of those who step up when everything is at risk.
A Time for Volunteers is more than a memoir of ships and storms. It tells a story of community spirit, resilience, and the volunteers who remind us that, even in disaster, hope floats.
This is a story of the power of ordinary people, rising together.
