LOCAL residents have an opportunity to give back to the community by becoming a volunteer for one of the city’s most important organisations.
The Mount Gambier State Emergency Service (SES) is calling on new volunteers to join them in helping others throughout the community.
Like many volunteer organisations, the SES has struggled to recruit new members, despite the service being essential when it comes to emergency response.
Volunteer recruitment officer, Charmaine Lucas-Cresswell said she hoped a renewed campaign throughout April would encourage people to join the Mount Gambier team.
“We are holding a number of information nights and will have our members out and about throughout April to share their rewarding experiences as a volunteer,” Ms Lucas-Cresswell said.
She said the common misunderstanding for regular people is they think they need to be fit and healthy to be a volunteer.
“That is not the case at all, we have a real mixed bag down at Mount Gambier at the moment and there is always a role for everyone,” she said.
“It’s just about coming down and giving it a go as we give you all the training you need to be able to respond to emergencies.”
While the organisation has a regular commitment of a three-hour training on a Wednesday night, Ms Lucas-Cresswell said outside of that, the hours are few and far between.
“In 12 months we might have something like 80 call-outs and there are obviously peaks and troughs,” she said.
“For such a small amount of time you give, you get such a sense of reward from helping people within the community.”
Mount Gambier SES volunteer Kim Smythe said there was nothing more rewarding than seeing someone so happy to see you in their time of need.
“Whether it be a leak in their house or a tree down, to see the sense of relief on people’s faces when you arrive to help them reaffirms that we are making a difference,” Ms Smythe said.
“I know people are very time-poor in this day and age, but volunteering for the SES is such a great way to meet new people and give back to the community.”
