Last financial year Queensland SES volun-teers committed more than 100,000 hours of service to help other Queenslanders rise above floods and storms.
Warwick’s SES Unit did more than 3300 hours in that year.
They were there working in difficult and often dangerous conditions to find those who were lost, help those in their darkest hours and reassure the community that they were not alone.
SES Week runs from November 10-18 and it’s a timely reminder of their efforts. Following an intake in January this year, they have 35 active members. These members perform tasks including storm damage to houses, land search for missing persons, vertical rescue – rescuing people from cliffs and other difficult locations, flood boat operations, traffic control, flood recovery, evacuations, Rural Fire Brigade support, Careflight and rescue helicopter refuelling, sup-porting SES units in other areas, and community support such as the annual Rodeo procession.
Members of the unit are multi-skilled and come from all different backgrounds. Some of their occupations include nurse, plumber, labourer, safety advisor, retailers, solicitor, truck driver and student.
Warwick SES was very involved in the local floods of December 2010 and January 2011.
They have provided sup-port to other communities during their flood events. Members assisted SES units in Dalby, St George, Goondiwindi, Mitchell, and Roma.
This year they have assisted police with two major searches for missing persons.
Other events that they have attended during recent years include storm damage at The Gap, Cyclone Yasi, Cyclone Larry, a number of missing person searches, supporting local Rural Fire Brigades during bushfire events, and storm damage at Newcastle and Noosa.
Members of the unit also provide support for community events such as the Rodeo parade, ANZAC Day march, fireworks displays and trail rides.
The Warwick SES Unit was named State Unit of the Year for 2011, and will this week host the Regional SES Week presentation event on Sunday.
SES volunteers across south-west Queensland will be recognised for the dedication they have shown their local communities at a regional awards ceremony in Warwick on Sunday.
Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) Too-woomba Area Executive Manager Robert Bundy will present a number of awards, including the prestigious Regional Unit or Group of the Year, Regional Operational Response of the Year and Regional Member of the Year.
