- State Emergency Services volunteers are being celebrated on Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day).
- Queensland has thousands of SES volunteers dedicated to helping their communities.
- Ravenswood SES Group in Charters Towers has extra reason to celebrate, receiving a new trailer valued at more than $34,500.
Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan has added an extra WOW factor to Wear Orange Wednesday for the Ravenswood SES Group, with the handover of a new trailer.
The single axle, partially enclosed trailer is worth more than $34,500 and will be used for a range of capabilities including road crash rescue, storm damage, search and rescue, and traffic control.
The Ravenswood SES Group is part of the broader Charters Towers Unit, whose 22 active members have spent more than 1800 hours volunteering for their community since June 30 last year.
Across Queensland there are thousands of SES members tirelessly devoted to helping communities in the lead up to, during, and after disasters and emergencies.
Their orange uniforms have become a symbol of hope and support when times get tough, and on WOW Day Queenslanders are encouraged to don their own orange outfit in a show of thanks.
It is a day for the community to say thank you, and a time for SES volunteers to reflect on and recognise their own contribution to our state.
SES volunteers are highly trained to respond to a range of incidents including cyclones, storms, floods, forensic searches, and cliff rescues.
WOW Day is held annually during ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Volunteer Week (15-21 May).
Quotes attributable to Member for Townsville Scott Stewart:
“North Queensland is sadly no stranger to natural disasters and that’s why we’re so thankful for our SES volunteers,” Mr Stewart said.
“We’ve seen first hand in Townsville the amazing support these volunteers provide during severe weather events like cyclones as well as their amazing efforts during the 2019 floods.”
“That’s why WOW Day is a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge our SES volunteers and the work they do throughout Queensland.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan:
“The SES has provided invaluable support to those affected by severe weather in recent years and wearing orange today is an easy way to show the difference they have made to many Queenslanders lives,” Minister Ryan said.
“I personally would like to say thank you to every SES volunteer in Queensland for the many ways they help their local communities and our state as a whole.”
Quotes attributable to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner Mike Wassing:
“The thousands of SES volunteers who support this state train year-round to ensure they’re ready to step up whenever help is needed,” A/Commissioner Wassing said.
“Our volunteers gain so much satisfaction from helping the community, and I thank each and every one of them for their hard work and dedication to providing such a valuable service.”
