News

Residents of NSW are encouraged to wear something orange on Wednesday 19 May to show their support and appreciation for their local NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) volunteers.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the day, known as Wear Orange Wednesday – which coincides with National Volunteer Week (17 to 23 May) – is specially designated to thank the men and women who give up their time to help their community through storms, floods and tsunamis.

“For more than 65 years, thousands of community members have donned the iconic orange uniform to protect their communities from these hazards,” Mr Elliott said.

“They don’t do this because they want recognition or special commendations, but because they care about their community.

 “I myself will be wearing orange on the day, and I hope everyone will join me to show appreciation for the more than 10,000 NSW SES volunteers that willingly give up their time to support others,” he said.

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York echoed Mr Elliott’s call for communities to show appreciation for the men and women of the service.

“Every year during National Volunteer Week, we make sure our members know the work they do year-round doesn’t go unnoticed,” Commissioner York said.

“Especially after the recent floods that hit in March, I know our volunteers will truly appreciate this small gesture and acknowledgement of the work they do,” she said.

Commissioner York added that other states and territories around the country will be honouring their SES volunteers in a similar fashion.

“While we are really getting behind the event, this is something that other SES agencies around Australia will also be doing to honour their members, so it’ll be quite the nation-wide spectacle,” she said.

“I also really want to thank those from outside our agency who have thrown their support behind this. It really shows our volunteers just how much the community appreciate their hard work.”