I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to a group of SES Personnel who attended our place in the aftermath of the above mentioned storm. They had responded to a call from our neighbours who had a broken window occasioned by part of our fence being knocked over. We have a massive Camphor Laurel (or had) in our back yard which was here when we moved into this house over fifty years ago. When the storm came through, either wind or lightening took half of the tree out. There was debris spread over our roof and down the driveway, onto the footpath and road. It was as if the tree had exploded.
The crew asked us to register a callout and they willingly got to work clearing up some of the worst debris. They were amazed at the size of the branches which ended up on the roof of our house. On the way through, the branches damaged our pergola as well and the chimney of our fireplace.
We would like to thank those people who work tirelessly in a voluntary capacity. It follows that the work is often dangerous as well because of the situations to which you respond. I would like to thank that crew and for you to let them know we passed on our appreciation. They worked with such good grace as well. It was a pleasure to have them on our property.
Northam District State Emergency Service Training for 2020 commenced in earnest on the 3rd February.
Attended by an enthusiastic group of members, all eager to start the New Year with a vengeance and expecting to get straight into skills maintenance. After a welcome back discussion by the LM and clearing up some minor admin and policies reviews it was handed over to the Training Manager, Sarge Bottacin. Sarge started with a discussion on the overall plan for training in 2020 and made comment that as we are all fresh and eager we would participate in some hands-on activities.
So the question asked by all was what are we doing? BGR, Search, Storm, sand bagging or Ops etc. All went silent, jaws dropped, when Sarge brought out the spaghetti, marshmallows, bits wood, flat head nails, string and some rope, and when Sarge made a quick comment about bondage all broke into laughter. When explained to all about team building activities all then fell into place. The only down fall was the marshmallows and spaghetti weren’t to be eaten but used in an activity.
A nice way for some light training to welcome all back to a new training year.
Photos Teams compete in the spaghetti tower challenge
Well our newsletter article caused a very quick response. There are apparently details of the new uniform on the HUB - something we were not aware of, and from our discussion with various SES Volunteers they were not aware either. Details can be found on the HUB of the relevant circular by clicking on Circulars where it is accessible under General Circulars…or searching on Dress of the Day will also bring it up quickly.
As part of their way of acknowledging and thanking emergency services volunteers for their service, the NRL will be providing WA emergency services volunteers the opportunity to free tickets to attend the NRL Nines on February 14 and 15 at HBF Park.
Please see the attached link for details of the NRL Nines.
It will be an Australia Day to Remember for Tex McPherson of the Swan SES Unit, after he was recognised in the Australia Day Honours list, 2020, for his contribution to the Emergency Services. Tex was awarded the Emergency Services Medal by the Governor General of Australia, General David Hurley.
Tex first joined the Swan SES Unit as a Volunteer in 1998 and his leadership and training abilities were recognised very early in his Volunteer career. He has been an outstanding SES rescuer, trainer and leader, who has, for more than twenty years, demonstrated outstanding skills in leadership and the operational and training environment of the State Emergency Service throughout Western Australia.
Some examples of his ability to adapt and succeed have included deployments to the Moora floods, Morangup searches, Gosford NSW fires, Norseman bushfires, TC Monty, Fay and others, as well as flooding in the Greenough and Gascoyne river areas.
He has consistently maintained a high workload and standard of professionalism in all that he has done within the State Emergency Service and allied areas. Tex is viewed as a good example of the abilities and values that an SES volunteer should possess and is seen as a person who values his integrity and is held in high regard by his peers and work colleagues.
On behalf of the SESVA President Greg Cook, Committee Members and members of the SESVA Tex is to be congratulated in being awarded the Emergency Services Medal (ESM) and thanked for his excellent service to the community, the state and our country.
I wish to send our sincerest thanks to the SES Service and snifffer dogs involved in searching for my dad, William Johnson yesterday. At a highly stressful and distressing for us, they worked tirelessly and laboriously in darkened conditions demonstrating professionalism at all times. They should commended for all their efforts.
Thankfully, my father was found with minor injuries, a considerable distance from the Mercy Care Residential Facility. We are grateful that the SES were able to assist us and that the result was a favourable one.
Woolworths Group says thank you to volunteer firefighters and emergency services with 10% discount.
Woolworths Group is saying thank you to Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Services teams by providing them with a 10% in-store discount* across Woolworths Supermarkets, Woolworths Metro, BIG W, Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores from today until Friday, 31 January 2020.
The discount is a gesture of Woolworths Group’s appreciation for the role Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Services personnel have played during the bushfires, but also for their ongoing support of communities throughout the year.
Woolworths Group CEO, Brad Banducci said; “We are humbled and grateful to the volunteer firefighters and emergency service teams who have been risking their lives, in the thick of the bushfires, standing by communities to help them during this challenging period.
“This discount offer is a gesture of our thank you to them for their tireless service all year round to the community. We hope they’ll be able to take full advantage of it across our entire Group of stores from now until the end of the month.”
The discount applies to in-store purchases only when Emergency Services identification is shown. For a full list of eligible volunteer firefighting and emergency services organisations, visit woolworths.com.au/community.
The State Emergency Service Volunteers Association appreciates the WA government approach to consultation to the Federal volunteer compensation scheme. The Association President, Mr Greg Cook and the other four Association Presidents were invited to meet with the Premier, the Minister, the Commissioner and the Chief of Staff, Commissioners Office.
It was not what we expected. A few basic questions from the Premier to gain our collective thoughts which stimulated a great conversation between all attendees. I think we all may have learned some new sea faring terminology.
Simply put, the Association is seeking a position with the State that will see that volunteers are not out of pocket when attending emergency incidents. No we don’t what to get paid and destroy the ethos of volunteering. This is critical important to maintain our community’s resilience and encourage broad participation for all the right reasons.
A growing issue was also raised at the meeting that there is an increasing number of non-genuine charity collections based on the eastern states fires. If you or your unit are made aware of any of these practices, please notify the Association or DFES.
While we were on the subject of hardship, it was also discussed that many of the donations that are being received possibly could be channelled into the volunteer hardship scheme. As a way of consultation, the attending Associations warmly received and endorsed this position and the benefits that it will bring to SES Volunteers.
