It’s been a busy 12 months for Batemans Bay NSW SES volunteers who’ve responded to 103 tasks helping the community during storms, floods and other emergencies and now residents are being encouraged to wear orange, the official colour of the SES uniform, to recognise this contribution.
With the help of principal partner NRMA Insurance, the NSW SES will be celebrating Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day) on 10 May to recognise the 40,000 SES volunteers across Australia who are always helping their communities in times of need.
NSW SES Batemans Bay Unit Controller Mike Day said WOW Day is a fun and creative way for people to show their support for local volunteers.
“This day of recognition is timely given the contribution many of our volunteers have recently made in the wake of the devastating floods in northern NSW as well as other emergencies that have affected the local community,” Mr Day said.
“There will be activities happening locally to mark this occasion, including a street stall at NRMA Batemans Bay. If you can’t make it to a WOW Day event, you can still show your support by wearing something orange and taking a ‘selfie’ with #thankyouSES,” he said.
NRMA Insurance Partnerships and Programs Manager, Jen Cobley, said that it’s important to recognise the hard work NSW SES volunteers do for the community.
“Through our partnership with the NSW SES, we have seen first-hand the vital role volunteers play in helping communities prepare for and recover from severe weather,” Ms Cobley said.
“WOW Day is about celebrating the volunteers who put the community ahead of themselves, and we would encourage everyone to wear something orange and snap a selfie in support of the NSW SES.”
Locally, NRMA Batemans Bay has donated more than $1200 collected from the local community to the local Unit. “These funds allow NSW SES Batemans Bay Unit to purchase equipment and provide training for our volunteers that will benefit our capability and as a result, the local community” Mr Day said.
“We would like to thank NRMA Batemans Bay and the local community for the very generous donations”.
The NSW SES has around 9,000 volunteers across the state who come from all walks of life. Volunteers range in age from 16 up to 80 and are involved in activities as diverse as flood rescue, tarping roofs, clearing fallen trees, community education, logistics and planning, communications, and much more.
Find out how to get involved in this year’s WOW Day: www.wearorangewednesday.com.au
Find out how to volunteer with the NSW SES:
