Join us: SES members David Brown, Bradleigh Hudgell and Shane Reeves. Picture: Tommy Ritchie 60057
Erin Pearson
GEELONG’S State Emergency Service is crying out for new members amid a decline in young volunteers, according to a regional training officer.
Shane Reeves said Geelong was like other regional centres losing potential new blood to “the big smoke”.
“We’ve got a good majority of volunteers in their older years and not a lot of younger people, so I don’t know where we’re going to end up in the future,” he said.
“Those who see the opportunities that arise from the SES become our best members because there’s a great sense of achievement when you’re apart of search-and-rescues.
“It’s very much a team environment.”
Mr Reeves, an 18-year member of the service, said the SES’s road, rescue and recovery training also gave new recruits valuable additional skills for their resumes.
“All the training gives members potential to earn certificates in public safety, which can be carried into future workplaces.”
Mr Reeves said recruits also enjoyed pride and achievement from helping communities in trouble.
“We’ve had some fairly bad building damage from floods and winds in Geelong over the past few months and our job is to solve the problems and minimise the effects.
“There are days where I leave home thinking about what I will do today but you can’t plan what’s going to happen.”
Mr Reeves said 20 SES volunteers were involved in a search earlier this week for a missing 83-year-old Drysdale, who was eventually found safe and well.
Other members were also helping fight flooding in Swan Hill and Rochester this week, he said.
