Murray SES member says WOW Day is important to recognise work and sacrifice of volunteers and their families

Waroona’s favourite cow Mooriel is sporting a new look this month, dressed in orange to show support for the State Emergency Services.

Coinciding with National Volunteer Week, May 20 is Wear Orange Wednesday, a day when people are encouraged to wear orange to show support and acknowledge SES volunteers for their work and contributions.

Murray SES unit deputy local manager of operational support Lisa Busuttil has volunteered with the SES for 23 years and said WOW Day not only recognised volunteers’ work and effort, but the sacrifices made by family members and those in support.

“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for the community as a whole to get together behind their local volunteers,” she said.

“I think the other part of it, is it gives us an opportunity to try and raise a bit more awareness as to who the SES really is, what we can do, how we can help them.”

Volunteering to give back to the community, Ms Busuttil said the reason she worked with the SES had changed over the two decades, now focusing on sharing her knowledge and helping others achieve their goals.

“My why when I first started was just to get some experience, continue on that volunteering path and learn some new things,” she said.

“As you continue on to the 20-something odd years, I don’t want this knowledge and experience to go to waste.

“Let’s share that, let’s not hold on to it.”

Ms Busuttil said helping people during some of their worst days and being able to provide support to the community gave the volunteers a sense of accomplishment.

She had nothing but praise for her Murray unit who she said had done outstanding work.

“Not just operationally, but getting out in the community, attending so many more community events, raising awareness, the education that they’ve been doing, it’s been absolutely incredible,” she said.

A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said more than 1900 SES volunteers helped keep communities across WA safe in natural disasters and emergencies every year.

“These trained volunteers are there for the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” they said.

“From conducting emergency repairs on buildings damaged by cyclones, storms and flooding, to ferrying cargo and passengers across floodwaters, the SES provides an invaluable service to the people of Western Australia.

“They assist WA Police during land searches, undertake aerial and cave rescues, attend road crashes and assist fire crews during the long, hot bushfire season.”

For those considering volunteering, more information can be found online at dfes.wa.gov.au.