Thanking our Phillip Island SES volunteers this WOW Day

Wednesday May 17 is 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. 

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.

A major and prolonged emergency event, with some of the worst floods in Victoria’s history, it affected northern parts of the state. As part of our state wide response, approximately 372 emergency warnings were issued and more than 900 flood rescues conducted by VICSES crews.

In the last 12 months, VICSES volunteers have responded to over 35,000 requests for assistance – generously donating their time in support of their communities. For SES volunteers in the Gippsland region including our Philip Island Unit, 2194 requests for assistance were received in this time.

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 – 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 1300 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.

Local volunteers

VICSES Phillip Island Unit volunteer, Sarah Pendry, is a full-time carer for her daughter with Down’s Syndrome, and a son with special needs

In 2021, she broke her ankle on a camping trip and, when she called for help, VICSES Maffra Unit volunteers arrived to carry her out to a waiting ambulance.

Sarah was so impressed she joined her local unit in Phillip Island.

Despite her injury, Sarah attends calls for help from the community for fallen trees, assists her fellow volunteers at road crash rescue incidents, casualty handling, and is currently learning how to become a radio operator.

“For me, I’ve never felt confident enough in myself and it just gives me that extra confidence and especially to challenge myself at this age, and it’s something very outside of the box,” Sarah said.

“I’m a hands-on woman. I’ve been on my own with the kids, so I give things a go. It’s just challenging yourself and putting something in there for yourself, other than in the home setting.

“We’ve only got three operational team members who are women, with an operational workforce of around 12.

“So it would be great to see more join,” Sarah said.

“I know it’s difficult to fit around some people’s schedule. I generally answer the daytime calls, when the children are at school, and that works pretty well for me.

“Physically it has been challenging to complete aspects of the training, but I still take part in request for assistance from the community which suit my level of ability.

“You’re constantly learning, not a day goes by where you don’t learn something new. Every job offers a new perspective on the work.”

As well as being a road crash rescue unit, VICSES Phillip Island Unit volunteers responded to 32 calls for help from the community during October and November of last year, including seven calls for flood-related incidents.

The unit is always looking for volunteers (both for operational and support roles), and are happy to arrange a chat with prospective members.

The Phillip Island unit relies on donations, and would like to thank its community partners: Phillip Island RSL, BP Cowes, Terry White Chemist Cowes, H Bombs Barbers, Phillip Island Patchworkers, Phillip Island Plastic Model Show, and Miners Dispensary for their support.

To help celebrate WOW Day 2023 and to thank our 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

Share a message of thanks to SES 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.