When a young person went missing in Launceston last week, emergency services and the community hastily mobilised to search. There were relatives and friends and acquaintances and those unknown to the family joining the party.

None of us would feel surprised because this is what we do. When someone is in trouble or the chips are down, we come together and help.

The wonder of relatively small communities, where many are known to each other in some way or other, often results in those willing to assist coming together quickly, outwardly determined to make a difference.

Young Xavier at just four years of age and struggling with communication went missing around 4pm last Wednesday. As reporter, Melissa Mobbs described in The Examiner - "Xavier is non-verbal, has long blonde hair, and was wearing a blue t-shirt with a picture of a truck on the front".

By 6pm on the evening of the same day, Tasmania Police released a statement acknowledging our community: "Thank you to the members of the public for their assistance in this matter".

And on social media they recognised the importance of the platform assisting a positive result.

"Fantastic news, the missing four-year-old South Launceston boy we posted about earlier tonight has been located safe and well. Thanks for your likes and shares everyone "

Fortunately, for Xavier and his family he was located. However, it also reminds us that this is not always the case. There can only be one more devastating scenario than a child becoming lost, that being when a child dies as a result.

The trauma, sadness, grief, guilt and loss presents families and communities with an experience from which they will never fully recover.

And for those providing a level of support to family and friends experiencing the unimaginable, the best trait we can harness is unwavering patience.

Hearing helicopters over the skies of Northern Tasmania feels like it has become a regular occurrence.

From searching for those lost to staking out escaped criminals on the run, the swish/swash/swish/swash of rotor blades provides a level of comfort combined with heightened senses and novel like intrigue.

Tasmania's Westpac Rescue Helicopter assists with bushwalker and maritime rescue, medivac, and road trauma. It can also be deployed to search backyards and bushlands for dangerous individuals at loose and on the run.

Recently added to the fleet of search and rescue devices in Tasmania are drones. A drone is no longer considered a person who goes on and on with a monotonous tone. It is a highly sophisticated remote-controlled flying machine, providing eyes in the sky for everyone from police to wedding photographers keen to deliver another perspective of the joyous occasion.

As Acting Assistant Commissioner Robert Blackwood told The Examiner late last year: "We recently had a burglary with stolen vehicles identified as well.

"We now have a statewide coverage of drones now, with 20 trained pilots and another five to be trained".

"Over the last couple of weeks we've seen the drones used really effectively, particularly in relation to officer safety and solving crime.

"The drones were deployed and we were able to give officers situational awareness.

"The drones then identified a stolen vehicle located on a large farming property, and also assisted in locating stolen firearms.

"They're also used quite often in relation to vehicles that evade police," acting Assistant Commissioner Blackwood said.

Drone technology will only improve with enhanced connectivity via mobile phone and Wi-Fi permitting them to expand their workload and assist with searching for the lost and criminals alike.

Drones have been deployed across New South Wales to protect surfers from shark attacks. As a family, we witnessed one of those flights in the surf town of Yamba. During 2019, a NSW state government drone fleet trial:

• Covered approximately 25,000 kilometres

• Nearly 9000 flights

• Over 2000 hours of flying

• Observed approximately 350 sharks

• Evacuated beaches on 48 occasions

Drone technology has also been introduced to assist surf lifesavers with rescues of struggling surfers and swimmers, carrying and deploying self-inflating life rafts - the device is known as The Little Ripper.

The future of search and rescue is unlimited with advanced technology such as drones saving lives. We should all take time to recognise and acknowledge the incredible work of Tasmania's emergency services personnel. Their commitment and dedication and kindness in the face of pressure and despair provides trust and certainty in volatile situations.

And we should also feel proud of our communities who unquestionably come together when needed. Whether searching for a four-year-old or providing support to a person or family we may not know well, Tasmanians unite and make a significant difference at significant times.

What we can do better is to harness those feelings of support and friendship in desperate times, recognising their need in our daily lives by offering empathy, understanding, tolerance, and patience for those struggling with unforeseen challenges, heartache, and grief. Our test is to be just as good even when things are great.