SES appeals for more members

By James Kleeman

Mar 10, 2023

Tatura SES unit controller Bec Gould and Shepparton Search and Rescue president Nacole Standfield prepare sandbags during the October floods. Photo by Megan Fisher

Flooding at Serra Crt, Tatura in the aftermath of the December storm. Photo by Megan Fisher

Dealing with two natural disasters in the space of a few months is something no emergency service ever wants to face.

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It’s a challenge Tatura State Emergency Service faced head-on at the end of 2022, when the town was hit with not only the devastating Goulburn Valley flood event in October, but a freak storm that shocked the community in the lead-up to Christmas.

Tatura SES unit controller Bec Gould said the timing of the storm in December meant her small team was put to the test only months after the floods, and was still in the process of evaluating the extent of the damage.

“Quite a few businesses around Tat and a few houses were impacted (during the storm),” Bec said.

“Because it happened so close to Christmas, trying to get everyone in to help out was a challenge.

“The great thing about the volunteers we have here is they’re here for the community.”

Bec said although the SES unit in Tatura was a small one, its commitment and willingness to improve itself for future events meant the community was well-served.

“We’re always kept busy and we’re doing training every Monday from 7pm onwards,” she said.

“It’s about keeping our skills and maintenance up to make sure we’re prepared for anything the town might face in the future.

“We’re a very small unit, we have seven active members here, the fact we look after such a large area; we could always do with more.”

The team was always on the lookout for new members, Bec said, with working arrangements and training hours flexible for those interested in joining up.

“If there are more people out there that are happy to volunteer for organisations like CFA and SES, when it does come to major events, there’s more people out there that can provide more assistance,” she said.

“Not that we can’t provide that at the moment, but as they say — many hands make light work.”