By Rose City Writers
If there is a flood, fire, in fact any form of a disaster, you will see orange clad men and women giving their time and energy to help those in need. They are State Emergency Service Volunteers (SES).
What do we know about these generous and brave people? Yes, they wear an orange uniform and are always there to help.
From the State Emergency Service Website, we learn that the organisation is built on good will. There are thousands of members, around six thousand in Queensland. They are
• People helping people.
• Mates helping mates.
• Neighbours helping neighbours.
SES members are co-workers with Ambulance Services, Fire Brigades, Rural Fire Brigades and the police.
Their work includes
• Flood Boat Rescue.
• Road Crash Rescue.
• Urban and Rural Evacuation Searches.
• Emergency Traffic Management.
• Urban and Rural Search and Rescue.
• Agency Support.
• Incident Management.
• Community Education.
SES members receive world-class training and their primary purpose is to assist the most vulnerable members of the community. Volunteers have a six months basic training period and then may choose to learn more in a specific area of their choice, for example, Swift Water Rescue. (End Website Information.)
The State Emergency Service was formed in 1974 replacing the Civil Defence Service. Their goal was/is to offer assistance in Natural Disasters.
There are eight area offices in Queensland, manned by paid staff. Warwick SES is under the auspices of Toowoomba. (NOTE: Volunteers are not paid for their services.)
Warwick Unit SES services the northern portion of the Southern Downs Regional Council area.
SES is supported by the State Government and the Local Councils. The State provides uniforms and specialised equipment. The Councils provides vehicles which may be subsidised by State Government, provide a building to house equipment, and an operational budget. Local SES members fundraise for their local group to buy additional necessary equipment. Recently Warwick SES raised $2500 to purchase a mule stretcher, used to transport injured patients in areas inaccessible to vehicles.
Warwick SES Headquarters doubles as an incident Control Centre for SES, QFRS and RFS in times of major emergencies.
To date Warwick SES has assisted in flood work, traffic duties, chainsaw clearing, swift water rescues, assisted Fire brigade by assisting with welfare and resupply, air-based operations, (filling water tanks on planes and helicopters for fire management), arranged supplies to be airlifted to stranded residents, searched for evidence in police investigations, monitored storm damage, assisted with communications, performed vertical rescues and administered First Aid, a huge effort for a group of fifty -one volunteers. In addition, members assist the local community in the Anzac Ceremonies, provide information in education and recently managed parking and traffic control at Covid Inoculation Centres.
Open Days are conducted and schools visited, to promote their work and delivering valuable information, for example, tips for safe bush walking, assembling a survival kit, evacuation plans for pets, planning an escape route and organising a kit containing valuable personal needs and details. What you need will surprise you.
Warwick SES is constantly seeking volunteers. The organisation is an outlet for retirees to use their skills, an opportunity for young people to extend their skills and being involved with activities such as abseiling and a chance for people of all ages to give back to the community.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, contact Toowoomba Area Office on 45925201 for further information.
FOR FLOOD OR STORM DAMAGE CALL 132500.
THANK YOU, WARWICK SES VOLUNTEERS. YOU ARE INDEED OUR LOCAL HEROES.
THANK YOU WARWICK SES VOLUNTEERS, OUR LOCAL HEROES.
