Residents across the North East thanked their SES volunteers today, but none did so with more colour and enthusiasm than the kindergarten kids at Wodonga West Children’s Centre.
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With hair coloured and ‘thank you’ signs at the ready, the children met Wodonga members on Wear Orange Wednesday.
Community education facilitator Carina Heppell, who has been with the SES for 16 years, said many went away knowing the phone number 132 500 off by heart.
“That’s why we do this with young age groups – if we teach them, they then teach their parents and grow up knowing about the SES,” she said.
“In the past couple of years this day has been growing.
“Many people think we get paid – but we’re all volunteers.
“We do this because we want to help.”
The Wodonga Unit has 47 volunteer members and in the past year has responded to 91 requests for assistance from the local community.
Reasons for callouts have included storms, floods, traffic and incident management and support for other emergency services.