General News
18 January, 2024
Hands go up to revive SES unit
WEDDERBURN residents have emphatically voiced support to inject new life into the town’s dormant State Emergency Service Unit. More than 30 residents put the hands up at a community meeting on Monday night when asked whether the unit was wanted in...
WEDDERBURN residents have emphatically voiced support to inject new life into the town’s dormant State Emergency Service Unit.
More than 30 residents put the hands up at a community meeting on Monday night when asked whether the unit was wanted in the town
Many later spoke with SES staff and volunteers about signing up for membership and training that could see the unit regain operational status within six months.
Support for the unit has been heightened following summer storm floods across the region since Christmas Day with some residents whose homes were damaged among those discussing membership.
The SES brought crews from Bendigo and Melbourne to assist with flood work.
Western region deputy chief officer Simon White and regional operations manager Brad Dalgleish were grilled on the unit’s troubled history that saw several members resign last year.
But Mr White said: “We can’t change the past, we need to talk about the future. The absolute truth is that Wedderburn needs an SES unit ... there is history and we need to learn from that.”
Mr Dalgleish said a minimum eight trained people were needed for the unit to be functional but he was aiming for 10 or 12 members.
“We want to concentrate on road rescue training for Wedderburn,” he said.
Local unit volunteer Shane Lidgerwood told the meeting: “We need you and so does the community.”
Former member Di Gordon Cooke said the unit had been part of the town and shire for more than 30 years.
She called on SES staff to acknowledge past services and “please respect the people you are getting in to get the unit back up”. “Build up the foundation and don’t forget what has been done before.”
Keith Lewis, who has been a member of the unit, said volunteers had previously not been allowed to use their initiative and claimed Wedderburn members had been unfairly treated by the SES regional office in Bendigo.
Former deputy controller Reg Holt, who quit as a member last year after more than 25 years, said oversight of Wedderburn should be transferred to the Ballarat SES unit.
Mr Dalgliesh said that without a Wedderburn unit, the closest SES response teams were 45 minutes away from the district.
“We need the local community to step up and volunteer,” Mr Dalgleish said.