Q- Why did you join the SES? I was interested in helping people, and also keen to learn new skills and find a practical way of keeping others up to date. I believed in what the organisation does and thought 'If not me, then who?' Q- Why do you like being an SES member? Being able to help people when they need it most. It's great to be able to put something back into the community. There is a real sense of 'mateship' between people in the unit, and it does get tested with the trying conditions we work under at times. Being able to do something when someone is lost. The news skills I've learnt, like being a chainsaw operator, and working in storm damage operations, be it 'first-aid' on a roof that is leaking, or dealing with a flood in a person's home.
Q- What makes you come along to training week after week? Sense of purpose - the SES has such a wide range of responsibilities / tasks so we have lots to learn to be able to perform our role in the community. There is always something to do to keep us ready, be it training in new skills, revisiting past training to ensure we are constantly up to date, or maintaining the equipment that we use in our work. It is also good to catch up with people that become friends in a way.
Q- Give an example of your best memory/experience with the SES. One year we were helping at the HBF/Channel 7 Teddy Bears Picnic. We were there in a support role for the organisers but while there we were asked by about four sets of parents to help find their lost children, which we did, including having to find the parents of one child once we had found the child. Given that it was full of children and perents, we still managed to find the children quickly, reducing the worry out of what should have been an enjoyable day for all.
Q- If you have had an embarrassing moment, share the experience. None so far.
Q- Goals for yourself, and / or the Unit. For myself, to complete the basic skill training, become an accredited trainer within the unit, and complete the new communications setup which began last year. For the unit I believe the goal is to achieve a good sized member base, with members trained in the skills required for us to fulfill our role within the community. Q- Write a paragraph about yourself. I am married and have two boys. I enjoy woodwork, playing with my sons and being in the SES. Working in the computer industry there is always a lot to read to keep up to date with trends in development. Life is full and it would be easy to give up the SES, but it is enjoyable working with my unit colleagues. Even with the callouts in the middle of a cold wet night, I go home tired but with a real sense of achievement.
