Support our hard working SES volunteers by wearing orange on Wednesday, May 19. As well as responding to emergency call outs, local volunteers give up their time to undertake training workshops to help keep the community safe.. Sitting in front of a staged scenario tackled during a training workshop last month (from left to right) are Bri Reid (front), Joel Reid (back), David Mcfee – Phillip Island SES Unit and Daniel Blackney – San Remo SES Unit.
Wednesday, May 19 is Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW) Day, a national day of thanks dedicated to the SES volunteers across Australia.
Held during National Volunteer Week, WOW Day encourages the public to dress in orange as a show of thanks for the invaluable contribution VICSES volunteers make to the community.
More than 650 of your friends, neighbours and relatives volunteering with VICSES in Gippsland, supporting their local communities during flood, storm, landslide, road rescue, search and rescue, and so much more.
In the last year, Gippsland VICSES volunteers responded to nearly 2700 requests for assistance which included 1720 downed trees; 180 damaged buildings; 166 road rescue incidents; 103 flood calls, and 238 requests to assist other agencies including Victoria Police. The busiest Gippsland units were Warragul (498); Morwell (308); and Leongatha (257).
To celebrate WOW Day, Victorian landmarks will be ‘flooded’ in orange, including the Melbourne Town Hall; AAMI Park; Bolte Bridge; City Link Sound Tunnel, and the Melbourne Star lit up in orange. Keep an eye out for WOW Day Banner flags along the Princes Highway in Bairnsdale, installed with the support of East Gippsland Shire Council.
VICSES is also the largest road rescue provider in Victoria, with 104 units certified for road rescue, with the unit in Moe the most recent to gain accreditation.
The community can share a message of thanks to VICSES volunteers this WOW Day by posting on Facebook or Twitter and use the hashtag #ThankYouSES.
If you want to be a part of the action, learn new skills and serve your community, visit ses.vic.gov.au/volunteer.
Follow our local Phillip Island and San Remo SES units on Facebook.
