General News
12 January, 2024
SES future: crucial community meeting on Monday
A COMMUNITY meeting in Wedderburn on Monday could decide the fate of the Loddon Shire's only State Emergency Service unit. The Wedderburn unit has been dormant since late last year with volunteers from metropolitan and country units deployed to the...
A COMMUNITY meeting in Wedderburn on Monday could decide the fate of the Loddon Shire's only State Emergency Service unit.
The Wedderburn unit has been dormant since late last year with volunteers from metropolitan and country units deployed to the town during three flood emergencies over the past three week.
“The call for SES volunteers has now become a desperate plea, and, in a final effort to keep the Wedderburn SES unit open and operational,” said the service’s Loddon operations manager Brad Dalgleish said last month before floods hit on Christmas Day.
“Recent reduction in volunteer numbers has resulted in the unit not being able to respond to road rescues, building damage, or fallen trees.
“The Wedderburn unit has been campaigning for some time to attract more volunteers, and while some have put their hands up for the task, the numbers are still not high enough to support a local emergency response team.
“There is now a desperate call out for volunteers from Wedderburn and surrounding areas to pull on the orange uniform and volunteer,” Mr Dalgliesh said.
The meeting will be in the Loddon Shire chambers at 7.30pm.