General News
18 May, 2023
Volunteers celebrated in orange splash
WEDNESDAY was Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW), a national day of thanks dedicated to State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers across the country.
WEDNESDAY was Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW), a national day of thanks dedicated to State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers across the country.
Held annually during National Volunteer Week, WOW Day encourages the public to thank and acknowledge SES volunteers, for the invaluable contribution and commitment they make to local communities.
In the last 12 months, VICSES volunteers have responded to more than 35,000 requests for assistance, donating their time in support of their communities.
In the Barwon South West Region, VICSES volunteers have dedicated close to 20,000 hours across the current financial year responding to emergencies in the community, and over 3000 Requests for Assistance in the last 12-months.
The past three years have been three of the busiest year’s in VICSES history following three consecutive La Nina’s brining a number of severe storms and major flooding.
Whilst SES volunteers are well known for their response during flood and storm emergencies, VICSES volunteers also respond to an average of between 900 and 1000 ‘Assist Police’ jobs every year.
This includes assistance at searches for missing people, searches for evidence at crime scenes as well as scene preservation and assistance with lighting towers and marquees.
In addition, VICSES volunteers respond to on average just over 1,300 road crash rescues each year and are highly trained to meet national standards and participate in regular capability assessments to ensure they continue to meet these standards.
October 2022 saw VICSES volunteers respond to 13,700 Requests for Assistance in a single month as major flooding impacted the state. This was VICSES’ busiest calendar month on record.
As part of the SES’ statewide response, approximately 372 emergency warnings were issued, and more than 900 flood rescues conducted by VICSES crews
During last October’s flood event, VICSES Port Fairy Unit duo Hannah Morris, and Brooke Griffiths, could see the floodwater coming downstream from Skipton, towards vulnerable communities at Allansford and Panmure, which gave them a few days to prepare.
Hannah has been with VICSES Port Fairy Unit for twelve years, so last October was her second major flood event.
Brooke, a mum to two boys, joined last year.
Hannah, Brooke, the other volunteers at VICSES Port Fairy Unit, and volunteers from the community, filled and laid sandbags around key infrastructure - like the highway - to keep roads open and accessible; to keep everything, from pumping stations to properties, operational throughout the flood event.
With time to prepare, VICSES Port Fairy Unit volunteers were able to focus on community education and engagement, and to deploy to assist their neighbouring units at Warrnambool, Mortlake, Dunkeld, Hamilton, Heywood, and Portland.
Throughout the Barwon South West Region, during October and November of last year, VICSES volunteers responded to 1483 calls for help from the community.
This included nearly 650 trees down across roads and properties, 475 calls for flood-related incidents, and over 100 calls for help with building damage.
VICSES CEO Stephen Griffin said he continues to admire the remarkable and relentless efforts of volunteers, and thanks them for their time and dedication.
“Many of you go over and beyond and it is truly inspiring,” he said.
“In the face of adversity, our people are capable of extraordinary things.
“Whether it’s a one in one-hundred-year flood event, or deployment to another part of the country to help local communities, VICSES volunteers are here for our communities.
“Wear Orange Wednesday is an opportunity for the public to say thank you, to all the volunteers who sacrifice their time away from their family, friends and loved ones, to help the community rain, hail or shine.”
To help celebrate WOW Day 2023 and to thank SES volunteers for all of their hard work, Victorian landmarks will be ‘flooded’ in orange, including metro locations like the Melbourne Town Hall; AAMI Park; and the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre.
To see what landmarks are lighting up in your area, visit,www.ses.vic.gov.au/news-and-media/campaigns/wear-orange-wednesday
The public can share a message of thanks to SES volunteers this WOW Day by posting on Facebook or Twitter and use the hashtag #ThankYouSES.
If residents want to volunteer, they can visitses.vic.gov.au/volunteer.