The Echuca SES open day introduced locals to their services and volunteer opportunities. Photos: Supplied
SES Echuca hosted their open day on Saturday, June 22, joined by a range of emergency services and other SES units as part of a recruitment push.
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Locals were welcomed to their precinct, where spokespeople from SES Echuca, Kyabram, Rochester, Rushworth and Loddon Mallee regional units spoke about their experiences as volunteers.
Loddon SES community resilience co-ordinator Layton Miller was impressed by the turnout and the response from the community.
“It went really well, we probably had 100 to 200 people,” he said.
“At this stage, we’ve got six to eight expressions of interest from members of the community to join, which is really good.”
The SES Rushworth unit brought their rescue truck.
The open day offered locals a chance to learn about volunteering and the various roles in emergency services.
Mr Miller found that many attendees want to help the community and have previous experience with the SES or other volunteer roles.
“We had some people that had volunteered interstate... (and) volunteers of other organisations who want to try something different as well,” he said.
“Basically, people who want to help the community.
“The group of people that we spoke to wanted to be hands-on, as well as people who wanted to work behind the scenes.
“So we’ll get a good mix of people who can help at unit base, and also people who can help in the field.”
Victoria Police, the CFA, Ambulance Victoria and Echuca Moama Search and Rescue Squad also participated in the event, rounding out the representation of first responders.
“As we say, ‘we work as one’, so all emergency services work together,” Mr Miller said.
“There’s certainly a big collective of agencies, which is really good.”
Constable Xavier Clark and Leading Senior Constable Shane Roberts from Campaspe Police Service Area.
Mr Miller emphasised that the SES had opportunities for people with all different skills and experience levels.
“The units have some really good people in them,” he said.
“We’ve got family involvement, we have a diverse range of people.
“The employment skills — we have retired people, we’ve got young people. We’ve got a diverse range of all backgrounds of people with different skill-sets.
“Every person has a skill-set, and it will be adapted to suit the needs of VICSES.”
Children enjoyed meeting Paddy the Platypus, face painting and making badges at the open day. Echuca Lions Club also ran the sausage sizzle, with Loddon Mallee Regional Unit bringing along their Driver Reviver van to provide free cuppas.
Rushworth SES is hosting its open day this Saturday, June 29, while Rochester SES will be open on Saturday, July 13. Mr Miller is grateful for the work of committee members to plan and facilitate the open day events.
“The amount of time that they have put in to make sure that their open days and the recruitment campaign have been successful has to be applauded,” he said.
“We’ve had some people who have really put in some long hours to make it successful.”
SES units and Echuca Moama Search and Rescue Squad are still looking for volunteers to join them. Echuca SES can be contacted at echuca@ses.vic.gov.au while Echuca Moama Search and Rescue Squad can be reached at president.emsr@gmail.com
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