ULLADULLA’S SES unit is better placed to respond to local emergencies after its headquarters were extended.
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Despite having a relatively small budget of only $200,000, the SES unit managed to more than double the size of its headquarters in Ulladulla.
The result is that all the unit’s life-saving rescue equipment is able to be stored in the one place for easy access when it is needed, ensuring a fast response from SES volunteers.
Members explained some of the equipment, particularly boats, had previously been stored at the homes of individual members because there was simply not enough space at the headquarters, potentially creating problems if equipment was needed and the member was not at home.
However that problem was overcome in the extended building, which was officially opened last week.
“The changes are going to be brilliant for anyone working here,” said Shoalhaven City Council’s assistant deputy mayor, Cr Allan Baptist.
He revealed council and the state government each contributed $100,000 to the cost of extensions, which would allow the SES unit to expand its membership base after numbers had been restricted by a lack of space.
More numbers would be welcome, Cr Baptist said, because, “The work you do is outstanding and extraordinary.”
On top of the unit’s regular work helping people in the worst of circumstances, plenty of volunteer labour went into building the extension, State Member for South Coast, Shelley Hancock, pointed out.
The result was something that was “so professional, and a wonderful area for training”.
Many people had put in “a huge amount of work in getting this right,” Mrs Hancock said.
She praised the way so many willingly gave up their time, often facing the worst possible weather conditions, to help others.
“Volunteerism is such a strong part of the Australian ethos, and we couldn’t do it without you; and we couldn’t do it without your families and your employers,” she told the gathering that included a large number of people in orange SES uniforms.
During the opening NSW SES assistant commissioner Greg Newton said the Ulladulla unit performed “an extraordinary amount of work”.
And the Ulladulla community would be “justly proud” of the facilities available for the unit’s volunteers.
The opening also saw three SES member recognised for the long service.
Mark Kitchener, David French and Greg Todeschini were recognised for five years of service, while unit controller Angie Batey received a national medal for 15 years of service.
