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SES Week to launch in Ingham

11/4/2009

Over the past twelve months State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers across Queensland have been faced with some extreme weather events, working day and night to assist communities and individuals in need.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said that Queenslanders will be able to thank these heroes for their ongoing support with National SES Week (7-15 November) being launched in Ingham this Saturday 7 November.

“It takes a unique person to be a volunteer, a person who is selfless and willing to put their own needs on hold to assist others, National SES Week is a great opportunity for the local community to get behind the vital role volunteers play,” Mr Roberts said.

Celebrations will commence from midday with a march through the streets of Ingham of volunteers, council and emergency services staff, before a free sausage sizzle provided by the Lions Club of Ingham in Rotary Park.

The event will also include the presentation of awards received as a result of the events in February, and the announcement of the Area Wardens initiative which will see members of the community working to assist with the response to natural disasters in the future.

Executive Director of Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ), Frank Pagano, said that it was fitting that the launch be held in Ingham, ten months on from the devastating flooding event.

“Many volunteers went without sleep for days on end to assist others in the community even though many of their own homes were also inundated with floodwater," Mr Pagano said.

“Members of the local community are invited to come along on Saturday and publically thank all agencies and personnel who were involved in the response and recovery efforts.”

Hinchinbrook Mayor Pino Giandomenico agreed that it was great to see SES week launched in Ingham.

“It is an honour to have an event like SES Week launched in Ingham and it is a great way for the community to show its thanks and support to all the SES volunteers, Council and Emergency Services staff and all the other volunteers for all their hard work during the February Floods,” Cr Giandomenico said.

“Saturday should be a great event and I urge everyone involved in the response and recovery to attend and be involved in the parade, and for the community to come out and show their support for these people who give so much to the community.”

In Queensland there are more than 6500 SES volunteers across 342 groups who last financial year committed 109,381 operational hours to the frontline.

The State SES Week launch is one of many celebrations taking place across the week concluding with the State awards ceremony in Brisbane on Sunday 15.



Contact: Further details on SES week can be found at www.emergency.qld.gov.au/ses.

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