News

The month of March sees the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES) celebrate the over 60s community.

New South Wales Seniors Festival will be celebrated from 3 March – 12 March 2017. The week celebrates the over 60s community with many local events being hosted throughout the State. The week also highlights the achievements of the many outstanding seniors in the community.

The theme for the 2017 Festival is ‘let’s do more together’ because there’s always room in life for new experiences and they’re even better when shared with family, friends and others.

Seniors Festival is all about thanking, celebrating and recognising seniors for the role they play and the contributions they make to the NSW community.

Here at the NSW SES we pride ourselves on being an inclusive and diverse emergency service where seniors are able to contribute to the safety and preparedness of their communities in times of emergency and disaster.

NSW SES Commissioner Mark Smethurst, acknowledged the important attributes that older volunteers bring the Service and the many roles available to volunteer in.

“I encourage volunteers from all ages to get involved with the NSW SES. There are many roles that NSW SES volunteers can participate in, regardless of their age including volunteering their time responding to storm jobs, to being a part of the Incident Management Team in the office, to conducting community engagement activities in the local community,” said Commissioner Smethurst.

“The NSW SES plays a vital role in protecting the State in emergencies such as floods and storms, as well as conducting rescues, searches for lost and missing persons and community engagement.

“Over 20 percent of our volunteer force are over the age of 60 and have spent a large amount of their life volunteering to assist their communities in times of need, and Seniors Festival is our opportunity to officially say thank you for the wisdom and wealth of knowledge and life skills they bring to the NSW SES,” Commissioner Smethurst said.  

This is also an important time to remind seniors in our community to prepare for floods and storms. Identifying capabilities, support people and talking with friends and family so they can assist in being prepared. Have a plan and prepare an Emergency Kit and let services, support people and family know about these plans.

Now is the time to make an emergency plan. You can make your own Home Emergency Plan by visiting http://www.sesemergencyplan.com.au/  

If you would like to become a NSW SES volunteer visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au and fill out the online application form or call the NSW SES volunteering and information line on 1800 201 000.