Volunteer - REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman - NSW SES Volunteers Association
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Volunteer the Issue 37 | September 2016 ISSN 1445-3886 | PP 100018972 REGULAR FEATURES From the Chairman From the Commissioner
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the
NSW SES VA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President of the Board of Directors Functional Reporting Director Functional Reporting Director
Charlie Moir ESM (Inverell) Kim Davis ESM (Captains Flat) Neville O’Malley (Tabulam)
0428 401 443 secretary@nswsesva.org.au northernzonechair@nswsesva.org.au
chairman@nswsesva.org.au
Functional Reporting Director Functional Reporting Director
Executive Director/Company Secretary Peter Lalor ESM (Mount Druitt) Patricia Orchard (Tamworth)
Andrew Edwards peter.lalor@nswsesva.org.au namoi@nswsesva.org.au
andrew.edwards@nswsesva.org.au
NSW SES VA AREA REPRESENTATIVES
Sydney Northern Area Namoi Area Murray Area
Graham Kinder (Manly) Dennis Buck (Namoi Region HQ) Frank Wilson (Mathoura)
sydneynorthern@nswsesva.org.au namoi@nswsesva.org.au murray@nswsesva.org.au
Hunter Area Central West Area Sydney Southern Area
Peta Luke (Merriwa) Vacant Pat Johnson ESM (Sydney Southern HQ)
hunter@nswsesva.org.au centralwest@nswsesva.org.au sydneysouthern@nswsesva.org.au
Clarence-Nambucca Area Macquarie Area Southern Highlands Area
Mark Neal (Nambucca) Vacant Patricia Maxwell (Queanbeyan)
clarencenambucca@nswsesva.org.au macquarie@nswsesva.org.au southernhighlands@nswsesva.org.au
North West Area Far West Area Murrumbidgee Area
Vacant Paul Kaye (Broken Hill) Madison Harvey (Wagga Wagga)
northwest@nswsesva.org.au farwest@nswsesva.org.au murrumbidgee@nswsesva.org.au
Mid North Coast Area Lachlan Area Illawarra South Coast Area
Cheryl Goodchild (Taree) Karl Milic CSM RFD (Cowra) Steve Cliffe (Wollongong)
midnorthcoast@nswsesva.org.au lachlan@nswsesva.or.au illawarrasouthcoast@nswsesva.org.au
Richmond Tweed Area Sydney Western Area
Kristine McDonald (Tweed Heads) Adam Rollinson (Sydney Western HQ)
richmondtweed@nswsesva.org.au sydneywestern@nswsesva.org.au
CRITICAL INCIDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM 1800 626 800
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NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 1
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Contents REGULAR FEATURES
4 From the President
5 From the Minister
5 From the Acting Commissioner
7 From the Editor
36 NSW SES Region Headquarters
FEATURES
9 Chris Chapman awarded
Life Membership
10 Emerging Leaders
Development Program
11 Contact Centres Australia in
partnership with the NSW SES VA
12 IM Project
14 Ordinary people doing
extraordinary things
16 Hacking up a storm in Wollongong
18 The Howard Years
21 Smartphones dial up
NSW SES response
22 Another unusual task
for the NSW SES
24 Rotary Emergency Services
Community Awards
26 Muswellbrook SES
has official opening
30 Rave reviews for new NSW SES
Youth Program in Richmond
Tweed
31 Fleet Project Deliveries for
financial year 2016-17
14 16
32 Get Ready public safety campaign
34 Larnook Flood Rescue
22 26 On The cover:
Large Animal Rescue
Awareness Course.
Photo by David King.
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 3
FROM THE PRESIDENT
The members who are embracing
the new changes are bringing new
attitudes and skills to the Service …
CHARLIE MOIR ESM
PRESIDENT NSW SES VA
A
s we draw closer to summer we impacts they are having on volunteers. changing Association. Volunteers from
can feel the temperature and The members who are embracing around the state regularly get together
weather change. Mornings are the new changes are bringing new in some form to learn what is required
warmer and the frosts are becoming attitudes and skills to the Service, of our leaders for tomorrow.
less. Whether you’re a winter person or which in turn provide a better service Many of our Emerging Leaders,
a summer person, the change is coming to our communities. Directors and representatives have
to head us into another season. This year we will be hosting our also had the opportunity to complete
Change is not something everyone biennial SESVA conference. We have Values Based Leadership workshops.
likes. Leo Tolstoy, one of the greatest changed the format so that it is a These workshops, presented by
writers of all time said ‘Everybody pure volunteer’s conference. The Dr Attracta Lagan, have given insightful
wants to change the world, but nobody speakers will be your peers - respected input for our members about the
thinks of changing himself’. fellow volunteers who will be requirements for upholding the values
And so to make ourselves better, to talking about the issues we face and of an association.
make our Service and our Association experiences they have been through. Our recent Volunteers Council
better, we must be open to change. I am proud to see many volunteers meeting has concluded with awarding
Whether that change is something step up to promote the fine work they a record number of Scholarships
significant such as a Policy or do in their units and communities and Grants to individuals and units
Procedure, or something as simple as and it is looking like being a throughout the state. It is reassuring
our attitude, if we don’t move with this wonderful conference. to see that the stability the Volunteers
changing world we will no longer be In the Volunteers Association we Association has been able to flow
the best we can be. have also been changing to develop through to forwarding a constant
The Directors of the Association our own leaders for tomorrow. increase in member benefits back to
and local representatives have been Our Executive Director, Andrew the volunteers.
visiting units this year. They get to Edwards and the other Directors, In all, another busy period, both
meet and listen to the volunteers and have been taking volunteers through with the volunteers and behind the
discuss all things important at the local an Emerging Leaders Development scene for the Volunteers Association.
and Service level. With these visits Program. This program aims to give Let’s embrace change, ensure we are
we are seeing first-hand the changes the skills and experience needed to be making decisions based on the right
that are occurring in the SES and the competent and confident in our ever- values, and enjoy the new season.
4 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016
FROM THE MINISTER
O
ne of my favourite things to $5,000 discretionary grant for better
do as Minister is to get out of training facilities.
the office and visit NSW State Whether it’s responding to floods,
Emergency Service units across the storms or any other emergency, the
state to meet volunteers and listen community can be assured that their
to their stories. NSW SES volunteers are well trained
In the past 12 months, I have and equipped and ready to help them
visited units in Ku-Ring-Gai, the Hunter, in times of crisis.
Wollongong, and The Rock just to a few The funds will allow for
and handed out a total of $45,100 in improvements of the Parramatta unit’s
discretionary grants to help improve facilities, which will help them to train
training facilities for volunteers. more effectively. Training is essential DAVID ELLIOTT MP
Discretionary grants are just one way in preparing our volunteers for severe MINISTER FOR
that I help to show the gratitude of the weather and their role in helping the EMERGENCY SERVICES
NSW Government and the community community.
and ensure volunteers are prepared In 2016-17, NSW SES budgeted It ensures over 8,600 NSW SES
for the tremendous work that they do. operating expenses will be $109.3 volunteers are trained and equipped
I recently had the pleasure of million. This is the highest budgeted to the highest standards, to provide
visiting the NSW SES Parramatta Unit total expenses in the history of the a timely response to requests for
with local MP Geoff Lee to provide a NSW SES. assistance from our communities.
FROM THE ACTING COMMISSIONER
A goal without a plan is just a wish.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
W
e all have wishes for this Service, including with the NSW SES
organisation, whether Volunteers Association. GREG NEWTON
we are in a Unit, Region The Plan is based around our vision ACTING COMMISSIONER
or in State Headquarters. We want of ‘Community based volunteers at the
to be more innovative, better forefront of a safe and resilient NSW’ and
resourced, professionally developed has 3 fundamental driving anchors: our Incident Management Team (IMT)
and much more. »» Volunteer Experience > positive, capability to support operations in
But none of these things come empowering and fulfilling; State and Region operations centres.
from wishing, or even having a clear »» Capability > People, tools, We need to ensure that we have a
set of goals. It takes planning to get knowledge, systems and skills; depth of resources we can draw from.
us there. »» Community > Supported, engaged That requires us to identify the gaps,
I am proud to say that the NSW and connected train up people accordingly and ensure
SES Strategic Plan for 2016-2021 is now While we are preparing for our longer that our processes are in order and
in place. This Plan is a foundation for term organisational future, we also communicated.
our organisation to continue to grow need to be thinking short term about Importantly, we need to plan to
and develop into the future and meet our operational posturing, particularly look after ourselves and manage
the environmental, social and political in the coming few months. The Bureau fatigue across the Service before this
challenges that we will undoubtedly of Meteorology has produced their operational activity begins.
face. It is essentially a roadmap with 3-month seasonal outlook, and with To finish with another quote,
clear strategies and actions that will catchments already primed, more rain “Planning is bringing the future into the
direct us to achieving our goals. could lead to widespread flooding and present so that you can do something
The beauty of this Plan is that protracted flood operations. about it now” (Alan Lakein)
it has been developed holistically, So, are we ready? So what’s your team’s plan for the
encompassing lengthy collaboration In SHQ and the Regions, we have coming months?
and input sourced from across the recognised that we need to boost Stay safe.
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 5
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FROM THE EDITOR
From the Editor
PAT JOHNSON ESM
EDITOR
I Sam Corby
would like to take the time in this
issue to congratulate our Young
Volunteer of the Year Sam Corby Young Volunteer of the Year.
from Sutherland unit. Sam has also just
been appointed a Deputy Controller at
Sutherland, one of the youngest I think
in the service.
I would also like to congratulate
our two young members Tessa Wicks
from Manly and Matthew Kertson from
Armidale-Dumaresq who have been
picked to go on the Young Endeavour
along with twenty one other young
people from all over Australia, for a
spectacular twelve day adventure
sailing from Darwin along the
Kimberley Coast to Broome. Tessa and
Matt will have a report and photos for
the next issue.
Once again I would like to thank
all the members who contribute to
this issue.
Tessa Wicks Matthew Kertson
I am very excited to go on such I applied for the scholarship to the Young endeavour Scheme
an amazing adventure and because I thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to challenge
share skills and experiences and push myself. Also I want to bring the skills and knowledge
with other young people. gained through this experience back into the community.
The things that I am looking forward to the most are learning new
skills while also developing and improving my confidence and
leadership ability.
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Proudly Supporting Our Local SES VolunteersCHRIS CHAPMAN AWARDED LIFE MEMBERSHIP
Chris Chapman (centre) with Craig Ronan, Central West Region Controller, Kerrie Pearce, Business Manager for Central West Region,
Louise Humphries, Business Services Officer for Central West Region and Reg Rendall, Local Controller for the Blayney Unit NSW SES.
Chris Chapman awarded
Life Membership
O
n Wednesday, June 1, 2016, at Central West Region Headquarters Unit NSW SES. Chris is also an active
Chris Chapman, a volunteer in Bathurst. member of the SIMS Project Team in
member from the Blayney Chris originally joined the NSW Central West Region.
SES Unit, was presented with Life SES on April 30, 1986, and up until Well done Chris! You are an
Membership of the NSW State recently held the position of Deputy inspiration to all other volunteer
Emergency Service (NSW SES) Local Controller for the Blayney members of the NSW SES.
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 9EMERGING LEADERS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Emerging Leaders Development Program
A
n expression of interest was
sought from members to
participate in a new program
within the Volunteers Association.
The program has been developed
for participants to develop their
skills and experience within the Not-
for-Profit sector. The program will
continue to run until July 2017, where
each participant will be provided with
valuable knowledge, practical skills, »» Attend various training courses Each of our Emerging Leaders
mentoring, the opportunity to observe including those run by the has nominated a project that
and present at Board meetings and Australian Institute of Company they would like to be involved
deliver a project of interest for both Directors; in, with areas covered across
the participant and the Volunteers »» Attend some Board meetings, technology innovations, mental
Association. President’s Workshops and other health and wellbeing, training and
At the completion of the program activities during the period of the development and a national body
members will have gained a unique program; for the Volunteers Association all
understanding of the operation of the »» Undertake and deliver a project being worked on.
Volunteers Association and will have of interest to the Volunteers Workshops have also been
the skills to become a Not-for-Profit Association working with its attended around Values-based
Board member. assigned Board member; and Leadership and Initial Contact
Expectations of the participants: »» Deliver a presentation on a Training as well as the participants
»» Required to work one on one with contemporary volunteering being observers in a Volunteers
a current Board member; issue to the Board. Council Meeting.
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Proudly Supporting The SES Volunteers Proudly supporting the local SES volunteers
“The Life They Save May Be Yours” on a job well done.
10 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016CONTACT CENTRES AUSTRALIA
Contact Centres Australia in
partnership with the NSW SES VA
C
ontact Centres Australia has
proudly represented the NSW
SES VA since 2009, conducting
large scale calling to fundraise for
the Association and its volunteers.
CCA use a well-established database
of regular supporters and the
general public to raise funds for this
great organisation.
Over 5 million calls have been
made since the partnership began,
with the assurance that each and every The dedicated team of agents If you’d like to take part in the raffle
single call upholds the high standards enjoys raising funds for the and give yourself a chance to win one
of the Association. CCA’s team Association, stating that it is one of the great prizes, please visit
reach out to supporters in rural and of its favourite organisations to www.sesvaraffle.com.au or call
metropolitan NSW, raising awareness call for – some have even become 1300 707 344. You could win yourself a
for the Association. volunteers themselves! new car or a holiday valued at $20,000!
Raffle Schedule
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Start Calling: 29 Jul 16 23 Sep 16 18 Nov 16 13 Jan 17 10 Mar 17
Finish Calling: 23 Sep 16 18 Nov 16 13 Jan 17 10 Mar 17 5 May 17
Draw Date: 18 Nov 16 13 Jan 17 10 Mar 17 5 May 17 30 Jun 17
Helo multi agency activity
Photo by Chris Abbott, Bathurst Unit.
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 11IM PROJECT
IM Project
S
ince the last edition of The The AFAC AIDES Memoire App
Volunteer, the NSW SES Incident is an essential guide for all those
Management Policy has been involved in managing incidents and
released. Please ensure you are familiar emergencies. The App covers all
with this policy and your associated the AIIMS roles, their functions and
responsibilities. To support the handy checklists to prompt thinking
implementation and understanding and help remember all aspects when
of this policy reference materials have under pressure.
been made available at all NSW SES
Headquarters and including the AFAC AIIMS-4 IBOOK
AIDES Memoire iPhone App, AIIMS-4 The AIIMS-4 iBook was pushed to all
iBook, posters and the hard copy NSW SES issued iPads as an iBook
AFAC AIIMS-4 Manuals, at all NSW SES during July/August 2016. INCIDENT MANAGEMENT
Headquarters. This iBook in addition to the POLICY - SUPPORT TOOLS
hard copy AFAC AIIMS-4 Manuals To support the implementation
NSW SES INCIDENT already provided to Regions and and understanding of the Incident
MANAGEMENT POLICY Units is available to members as a Management Policy several tools
The policy outlines how the NSW reference during operations and have been developed and are
State Emergency Service (NSW SES) for use in training and exercising available via EOS, or by contacting
will deliver its Command and Control activities. improject@ses.nsw.gov.au
responsibilities under the State They include:
Emergency Services (SES) Act 1989 INCIDENT MANAGEMENT »» NSW SES YouTube Incident
and the State Emergency and Rescue POSTERS Management Project Overview –
Management (SERM) Act 1989. Incident Management posters Webinar Recording
This policy replaces the chapter will be distributed to all NSW SES »» PowerPoint and
in the NSW SES Operations Manual. Headquarters for display in your »» A Frequently Asked Questions
Incident Control Centre. (FAQs) document.
AFAC AIDES MEMOIRE APP They are an excellent visual tool If you have any questions
The AIDES Memoire App was sent for quick and easy reference to AIIMS in relation to the Incident
out to all NSW SES iPhones on Friday, and Incident Management terminology, Management Project, please contact
August 12, 2016. definitions and structure. improject@ses.nsw.gov.au
12 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016IM PROJECT NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 13
ORDINARY PEOPLE DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS
Ordinary people doing
extraordinary things
What lay ahead stopped us in our tracks.
A
once old, proud pine tree was
now resting across a four-wheel
drive, the reach of its branches
so wide that it obscured the second
storey of the building behind, even
felled, as it had been, by the sheer
force of nature.
It filled the night air with the scent
of freshly crushed pine. The siren of
emergency vehicles in the distance
hinted that something had gone
wrong. We stood before the pine tree,
dwarfed by the devastation wreaked
by the super low-pressure system that NSW SES - Marrickville Unit volunteer Peter McIntosh attending to a large branch that fell
had carved its way along the coast during the June east-coast low.
of NSW in June this year. This year’s
devastating ‘stormaggedon’. forging a team. It is like team sports. SES - Waverley Woollahra Unit. I was
“Put your chaps on and get the pole- The difference is that this team plays unafraid as I carried the heavy pole-saw
saw ready” my team leader told me, many different sports.” back to my team-mates. My adrenaline
shaking us back into action. Since the 1950s, that is exactly what rush had vanished as we discussed the
I went over a mental checklist as the NSW SES has been doing. Initially, risks and hazards of the task before
I slowly walked to the truck. From the the SES started off as a response us. The service had taught me early on
corner of my eye, I saw the familiar to the threat of a nuclear arms race. to trust those in the familiar orange of
orange jackets of my team members as These days the service and its 10,000 the SES uniforms and the many training
they assessed the task at hand. There volunteers focus on protecting the hours they had behind that prepared
was no doubt in my mind that they community from different threats. them to tackle the ‘worst in nature’.
were doing a ‘take five’. Even with As the SES motto goes “the worst As Adam said “the SES is like family.
nearly five years’ experience working in nature, the best in us.” A rich diversity of friends you are
with the NSW State Emergency Service, Time and time again the best of the unlikely to acquire in other professions”.
I never ceased to be amazed by the State Emergency Services has been on Indeed, my team on that night was
hardworking, humble volunteers. display. SES volunteers responded to made up of a nurse, an architect and an
They are just ordinary people who do nearly 40,000 requests for assistance academic. Each person has something
extraordinary things. during the 1999 hailstorm in NSW. In to contribute to the service and in
I often wondered why they were 2001, they tackled the Black Christmas turn, they learn new skills and gain
willing to be brave the winter cold and bushfires. In 2011, the NSW State new experiences.
the rain, the summer fires and blistering Emergency Services volunteers went Learning new skills and gaining
heat and the fast flowing flood waters to QLD to assist with the post Cyclone new experiences have been another
to help the thousands of Australians Yasi cleanup. key motivator for me. In my five years,
who find themselves at the mercy of The June ‘stormageddon’ was no the NSW SES - Marrickville Unit have
nature’s extreme forces. Year in and exception. Fifty volunteers from my given me the opportunity to complete
year out. Of course, it’s a question I Unit had worked in rotation for five various nationally accredited courses.
also needed to ask myself. When I first days straight and completed 120 From senior first aid to land
joined the NSW SES - Marrickville Unit, requests for assistance from the local search to storm damage response,
my greatest motivation was to get out community. Even then, they had the our regular Tuesday night trainings
of my comfort zone. energy and commitment to assist have prepared me to respond to most
For 15-year-veteran of the NSW SES neighbouring Units. emergency situations. I have also
Marrickville Unit, Adam Jones, the SES That night, it was our turn to help had the opportunity to participate in
is about “helping the community and the Randwick community and the NSW courses outside of the SES, such as
14 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016ORDINARY PEOPLE DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS
NSW SES - Marrickville Unit Volunteers 2016.
the intensive leadership program “Lots of people sit at home and do Sydenham Green we passed many other
at the Australian Institute for Police nothing. I would rather do something emergency vehicles racing past. Their
Management as well as short writing constructive and help the community.” sirens and flashing lights reminded us
workshops with the Australian Centre That night was no different. of the devastation right across Sydney,
for Independent Journalism. The pole-saw was heavy and exhausting, and up and down the NSW coast, and
For the past 25 years, the but under the guidance of my team that cleanup and recovery would be
opportunity to up-skill has also been leader, the pine tree was cut slowly and ongoing for some time.
driving Debbie Burns. Since signing up methodically. To prevent damage to the As always, and despite our
in 1991, she has gone on to become the four-wheel drive, we used ropes to guide exhaustion, there was a sense of
longest serving volunteer with the NSW where the branches fell. By the time accomplishment within the team.
SES - Marrickville Unit. In that time, she we were done, the scent of fresh pine This feeling is my prime motivator and
has seen the Unit evolve from a small no doubt, that of my peers. A sincere
shed, to a Scout’s Hall to its new and well and heartfelt thanks that validates
equipped home at Sydenham Green. the sacrifices we make over the years.
One of the key characteristics of an The hundreds of hours these we spend
NSW SES volunteer is their resilience. training and preparing ourselves. The
These ordinary men and women do pride and sense of identity that comes
extraordinary things because they are with the orange uniform and being part
able to adapt in the face of adversity. of such an esteemed family.
Sometimes, nature provided these As Winston Churchill so astutely
challenges. Other times, it was challenges observed; “we make a living by what we
imposed by society. For Debbie Burns, get, but we make a life by what we give”.
her early years with the NSW SES was Fulfilling my role as the Public
about breaking the glass ceiling. Information Officer. By Hasmukh Chand
“I was the first female in the Unit to
be qualified to use a chain-saw”, she wood had blossomed with all the fresh
said with some relish. saw-dust, throwing an unexpectedly A BIG THANK YOU
For Adam Jones, it’s about mood over the scene of destruction. I would like to thank the NSW SES
conquering his fear of heights The resident thanked us for coming Volunteers Association for providing me
whenever he steps onto a roof. I also out in the evening to help her. with the grants that made it possible
have the same fear whenever I put on a The best part of the night was when for me to complete my writing courses
height safety harness. However, these she (like most members of the public) at the University of Technology’s
are not barriers that prevent us from found out that we were volunteers. Australian Center for Independent
helping the community, just personal One of the most common questions we Journalism. I would also like to thank
challenges to overcome. get from the public is “are you getting Louise Williams, for being a great
When asked what motivates her, paid for this?”. This used to irritate me course teacher and encouraging us
Debbie’s response was instant. because I thought it showed a lack of to explore our creative writing skills
“I bleed orange.” understanding of the work of the NSW and for her time and effort in helping
The statement encapsulated the SES. Now, I take it as a compliment, proof read this article. A huge thanks
essence of the service. This year, a testament to professionalism with to Debbie Burns and Adam Jones from
Debbie accumulated over a thousand which the NSW SES volunteers help NSW SES – Marrickville Unit for giving
volunteer hours with the NSW SES their community. up their time to share their stories
- Marrickville Unit. If this was not In our SES truck we completed with me. And finally, to the ordinary
impressive enough, she also regularly our after action review - a process in men and women of the NSW SES
volunteers to feed the homeless at which we evaluate how we dealt with who do extraordinary things for their
Martin Place. the situation. As we drove back to community in times of great adversity.
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 15HACKING UP A STORM
Presentation by Dr Berryman.
Hacking up a storm
in Wollongong
U
nlike the usual tempest events Volunteers, staff and from Parliamentary Secretary
creating devastation on our community members from across for the Illawarra Gareth Ward
shores, this storm brought with NSW came together to develop MP, Assistant Commissioner Scott
it a huge wave of innovative ideas. technology solutions to enhance Hanckel and a presentation on
The first ever NSW SES Hackathon our operational capability and live flood mapping in Jakarta by
was held in June this year on business. The group consisting Dr Matthew Berryman from the
the same weekend as the recent of developers, designers, University of Wollongong.
catastrophic weather event that programmers and innovative Day two saw participants form
brought havoc to the entire south thinkers pitched their ideas on the teams to collaborate, design and
coast of NSW. first day. This included speeches build prototypes of their proposed
initiatives, in a room designed to
replicate an incubator in Silicon
Valley. Each team presented its
ideas on the Sunday afternoon
to a panel of judges (ICT Director
Charles Emer, NSW SES volunteer
Daniel Pridham and Dr Stephen
Smith from Macquarie University
Department of Computing).
Prizes were awarded to ‘best
team’ Neil Burmester, Ross Wallace
Hackathon participants and IT support staff. and Shinoy Jacob, ‘Best individual’
16 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016HACKING UP A STORM
INITIATIVES
QualIT A web based app providing easy access to a member’s training
and education profile
Logi A vehicle inventory app for mobile devices to keep track of ropes,
rescue equipment and log vehicle kilometres
Member A subscription based system for managing emails to members
email
SES help An online portal for the community to request NSW SES
assistance
Event organiser Andrew McCullough. Take5 A mobile app for non-operational activity hazard/risk assessment
Data A visual tool to predict the incoming call rate and areas most
analysis likely to be affected by a flood or storm using historical RFA data.
MySES An app to track the availability of members using GPS and
provide easy access to training records.
SUSI A universal sign in system to track attendance of members which
can be taken into the field Fixed/mobile Member sign on system
using Member ID card
Lighthouse An addition to the Lighthouse Chrome plugin which allows
RFA members of the public to submit requests for assistance online
through a website.
Jason Roache and Director ICT
Charles Emer.
Zander Newcombe and Director ICT
Charles Emer.
Jason Roache first place and 16 year old
Zander Newcombe second place.
Due to operational activity, a
number of participants had to leave
early so the people’s choice award Director ICT Charles Emer, Neil Burmester, Ross Wallace and Shinoy Jacob.
has been deferred to a later date.
WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL
THESE GREAT IDEAS?
Every initiative will be presented
to the Senior Leadership Team for
consideration of further sponsorship,
investigation and design.
If you would like more
information or wish to be involved
in future discussions of any of these
ideas, visit our face book page
and search [Hackers & Innovators
@ NSW SES] or email Andrew
McCullough andrew.mccullough1@ses.
nsw.gov.au or David Leffley
david.leffley@ses.nsw.gov.au. Scott Colefax (National Parks & Wildlife) and Mark Sellars (Sutherland Unit).
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 17THE HOWARD YEARS
The
Howard
Years 1989-2001
THE SES IN 1989 HOWARD’S APPRAISAL the way of an administrative structure
Major General Brian Howard, known AND APPROACH to support them or indeed the units.
universally as ‘Hori’, took the reins Howard’s previous position had been The organisation was in a parlous state,
of the SES late in 1989 at the end of as Director of the Natural Disasters greatly in need of restructuring and
a long army career. He arrived at a Organisation (later Emergency reorientation, and State Headquarters
difficult moment in the organisation’s Management Australia), the needed to develop a leadership role
history, State Headquarters having Commonwealth reference point for if the volunteer units were to be
been lambasted in a report by the the State and Territory Emergency appropriately nurtured. Otherwise
Office of Public Management for Services. In that role he had made it they would stumble on by themselves,
having mismanaged its development. his business to get to know the largely separate organisations charting
For nearly a decade the SES had been S/TESs around the nation and to their own paths rather than as integral
run more or less as a department come to grips with their problems and elements of a larger entity with a clear
within the Police Force, an their needs, and he thus had some mission and the means of pursuing it.
arrangement that was never well sense of what he was facing as the Lacking leadership from above,
accepted by the volunteers because
it involved a loss of organisational
independence. In truth this was a
flawed model. Worse yet, senior and
long-standing volunteers had become Howard’s response to the SES’s problems
disenchanted by the directions that
were being followed by the leadership. was to establish a simple two-part
The SES was at a low ebb.
There was a strong sense that structure at State Headquarters, one to
the organisation was getting little
leadership from State Headquarters: deal with Operations … and the other
the local units were making do without
much policy direction and with even
to manage Corporate Services …
less in the way of financial support.
The SES’s budget was tiny – less than
$5 million at the end of the 1980s – and
almost none of that money seemed
to find its way to the grass roots. incoming Director of the NSWSES. the units were managing their own
And there was a feeling, which was But on taking up his position in the activities in their own ways. They were
captured in the OPM report, that State Sydney headquarters he found that performing impressively in operations,
Headquarters had become divorced he had underestimated the breadth as Howard noted when he examined
from the volunteer organisation and seriousness of the problems. the units which had dealt with the
and was operating as a self-serving “Everywhere I looked”, he said years two serious bus crashes on the
bureaucracy. As a result its very later, “there was nothing”. Structures north coast just before his arrival –
relevance was in question. There was a and systems were lacking in terms of between them these had cost more
need for radical change if the SES was operationally-oriented functions like than 50 lives – and he also noted the
to prosper and to play its full part in the training, equipment, communications effectiveness of SES volunteers in the
NSW emergency management system. and planning, and there was little in response to the Newcastle earthquake
18 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016THE HOWARD YEARS
RCR Competition at Wodonga 1997. Horrie challenged Reece Mags (DG from Vic SES) to an RCR duel. This then became the annual
Directors Challenge incorporated into the ARRO challenge.
which struck only days after he had the Government Radio Network (GRN). and negotiated increased
taken up his commission. Units were Moreover he obtained the Minister’s Commonwealth subsidies. Gradually,
accustomed to rallying to each other’s support for state funding of the inroads were made in reducing the
needs when additional resources were equipment function, which meant that numbers of units which were operating
required, as the Newcastle response a tap was turned on in relation to the from sub-standard facilities.
in particular indicated, and their basic resourcing of the units. He also placed an emphasis on the
rescue training, provided by volunteer The changed approach to units’ vehicles. Many of these were
trainers and based on the ‘Red Book’ equipment and communications was old and of dubious worth – in 1997,
(the Commonwealth Disaster Rescue important. In effect it began the when the first SES Task Force set
Book) fitted them well for the varied process of freeing the volunteer units off to contribute to the response
responses they had to undertake. from the need to raise funds locally to the Thredbo landslide, Sydney
There was, Howard, concluded, and to beg and borrow for what they Southern Regional Controller John
real strength at the grass roots of the needed to operate. Too much of the Jeppesen remarked with only a little
organisation. But that strength could organisation’s functioning in the past exaggeration that “Ten years ago
not be augmented, and the SES could had been based on hand-me-downs half those trucks wouldn’t have made
not evolve, without programmes which (for example from the police and the the first corner”. Within a decade
gave real support to the volunteers and army), local fund raising and charitable of Howard’s arrival the units all had
their units and ensured that they were donations of equipment. vehicles which were on their councils’
better led. Another area which attracted fleets and serviced by the councils.
Howard’s response to the SES’s Howard’s attention was the Howard’s focus on equipment,
problems was to establish a simple two- accommodation of the units. accommodation and vehicles produced a
part structure at State Headquarters, The provision of headquarters facilities new sense of optimism at the grass roots
one to deal with Operations (including was a legislated council responsibility, of the organisation. It also cemented the
operational support functions) and but the Commonwealth subsidies Director’s standing with the volunteers.
the other to manage Corporate were derisory and a common council Howard also focused on the way the
Services such as finance, procurement approach was to give the local unit SES functioned in its core operational
and personnel. His treatment of space that was surplus to council’s business. Standing operating
communications matters was indicative requirements rather than creating procedures (SOPs) were developed
of his approach: before his arrival something that was appropriate to to create consistency in operational
the communications area had been the operation of an emergency service responses, and a strengthened
confined largely to the repair of radios organisation. Many units, as a result, approach to planning was instituted.
from the various largely incompatible were functioning in totally inadequate The NSWSES of the 1970s and 1980s
radio systems that had been acquired facilities that were old, cramped and had had a major responsibility for
(often on a hand-me-down basis inappropriate in design. To say the emergency planning on behalf of
from other organisations) over the least, some of the headquarters were the departments of the government
years. There was no state programme of a shameful quality. They were (like Community Services in the context
to respond to the equipment needs certainly not helpful in attracting of the disaster welfare function),
of the units. Howard appointed an volunteers who needed to be able to but the organisation had never been
Equipment Officer with responsibility have a sense of pride in the buildings well resourced for the task: for all of
for floodboats, rescue equipment and from which they operated. that time there was never more than a
protective clothing, and he disbanded Over a period Howard codified the
the radio repair section and signed up to requirements for unit headquarters »» continued on page 20
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 19THE HOWARD YEARS
»» continued from page 19 and bus to Dubbo. This event brought
home a number of lessons – the need
single designated planning officer in for all floodplain towns to have an SES
State Headquarters and people with presence, for example (Nyngan had
little knowledge of planning principles none at the time, but a unit was quickly
or methods were pressed into the established afterwards), and the need
task. Worse yet the planning for floods, to seek to undertake major evacuation
part of the SES’s core business, was operations in advance of inundation
lacking and to a degree ignored. Apart (the people of Nyngan were trapped,
from a few local controllers who had their houses uninhabitable and no
seen a need to plan (for example, to way of escape except by helicopter).
evacuate people), the plans that existed Later floods were to see substantial
were confined to documents outlining evacuation operations mounted in
the procedures for developing and Windsor, Warren, Bathurst, Lismore,
promulgating flood warnings. Grafton, Ulmarra and Kempsey. There
Evacuation as a function was were difficult-to-manage flash floods in
largely ignored and as a result some Coffs Harbour and Wollongong as well.
dangerous situations had been allowed Beyond floods and storms, the SES’s
to persist in which it would not have core business, the organisation was
been possible to evacuate some flood- involved in many other emergencies
liable communities in the time available in support of other agencies. The
before they were overwhelmed by response to the Newcastle earthquake
flooding. The evacuation problem in was the first of these in Howard’s
severely flood-liable areas like the time, and another of great significance
Hawkesbury and Tweed valleys was was the response to the landslide at
poorly understood and responses to it Thredbo in 1997. This latter event saw
were therefore not well thought out. the NSWSES provide more responders
A repeat of the flood of record on the within the wider flood management than any of the many other agencies
Hawkesbury River could have seen endeavour and created opportunities involved. Both Newcastle and Thredbo
very large numbers of people, tens of for staff and volunteers to learn about saw the SES prove its versatility as
thousands of them, left unevacuated flood management. a general-purpose, multi-skilled
by the time their escape routes had emergency service organisation able
been cut. In the most difficult cases OPERATIONS to adapt to the challenges that were
many of these people would have In his eleven and a half years at the thrown in its path.
been at serious risk of dying when top of the NSWSES, Howard presided
severe floods struck their communities. over many emergency operations. THE HOWARD LEGACY
Clearly, there were inadequacies in the There were very big storm response There can be no doubt that Hori
SES’s conceptualisation of its task. operations to be undertaken in Howard left the SES in a stronger
Howard appointed professional Sydney’s west and north in 1990 position than he found it. He quickly
planners and gave the flood planning and 1991 respectively, and in 1999 assessed the organisation’s problems
task a high priority. The flood plans that the most damaging hailstorm ever and devised solutions for them, and
evolved in his time were wide-ranging, experienced in Australia struck the under his stewardship the organisation
focusing on the formalising of the eastern suburbs: more than 20,000 made substantial progress on several
responsibilities of agencies and on the dwellings were damaged. All these fronts. By 2001 the volunteers were
‘how’ of warning, property-protection, events created lessons for the SES to better housed and clothed, and had
rescue, evacuation, public education learn, the last of them in particular better equipment and vehicles, than
and other tasks. Moreover the plans showing how inadequate some of the they had had a decade earlier, and the
sought to define and describe, in Unit Headquarters were for managing basis had been laid for performing the
each council area, the nature of the storm damage responses. There were flood and storm management roles
flood problem that would have to be also major storm damage operations more effectively. Leadership had been
faced in floods up to the most severe during Howard’s time outside Sydney, provided, the parlous state of the SES
possible, and steps were taken to in country towns like Armidale, in the late 1980s had been corrected
improve the quality and the quantity Singleton, Lismore, Dubbo and and many improvements had been
of the flood intelligence available for Newcastle amongst others. made to the way the organisation
operational decision making. Strong Among the first flood operations functioned. Howard’s time in charge
links were created, too, between the Howard managed was at Nyngan in was a good one for the SES.
SES and the councils and government April 1990, when a record flood saw
agencies which were responsible for the virtually complete inundation of Chas Keys was the Deputy
flood forecasting and flood mitigation the town and an evacuation of almost Director General of the NSWSES
activity: these brought the SES all of its 2500 residents by helicopter from 1997 to 2004.
20 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016SMARTPHONES DIAL UP RESPONSE
Smartphones dial up
NSW SES response
M
ore than 700 NSW State
Emergency Service (NSW SES)
volunteers and staff received
new smartphones to enable instant This technology gives our volunteers the
access to critical flood and storm data,
up-to-date weather information and
ability to have instant access to information
access to corporate systems. which helps us better serve the community
The $2.2 million investment over
two years delivered smartphones
in our response to emergencies.
into the hands of all Local and Unit
Controllers as well as after-hours
duty officers.
We’ve witnessed the devastation
the severe weather caused but 780 tablets already in use by NSW SES Acting Commissioner Newton said.
our volunteers have been working teams in the field. The vision of the NSW SES is to be
tirelessly to make sure their “This technology gives our the world’s best at mitigating the risk
community is kept safe. These new volunteers the ability to have instant and consequences of emergencies on
smartphones will ensure they can access to information which helps communities; the new ICT vision is for
carry on with that important work. us better serve the community a modern and transformative ICT for a
The capability will complement the in our response to emergencies,” more effective NSW SES.
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 21ANOTHER UNUSUAL TASK
Another unusual
task for the NSW SES
M
embers of NSW SES are called
to do many different types of
jobs that are a little different
to our normal tasking and at times this
takes some thinking outside the box.
The Tabulam Unit was called to
a fatal plane crash in the Clarence
River to assist in the recovery of the
occupants. Two days later they were
requested to assist in the recovery of
the plane which lay upside down in
around 3m of water, only the wheels
were shown above the water. Our task
would be to transport the plane some
3km up stream to a point where it could
be loaded onto a truck. As this would
entail moving over a shallow section of
water we requested a flood boat crew
from the City of Lismore unit together
with their punt. All crews meet at
Clevlands Crossing at 09.00hrs.
22 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016ANOTHER UNUSUAL TASK
Police Rescue members from
Lismore and Police Divers from
Sydney were also in attendance, plus
a crew of aircraft technicians who
were there to pull the wings off the
plane once it was on the bank for
ease of transport.
The divers placed air bags under
the plane and rolled it over whilst
raising it. It was then winched to the
shore where the technicians removed
the wings and the fuselage was
man handled onto the Lismore punt
for transport upstream, a wing was
transported on the Tabulam inflatable
together with some of the divers
equipment. After a couple of trips
up and back the job was complete
at 1730hrs, just on dark.
By Neville O’Malley
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 23ROTARY COMMUNITY AWARDS
Left to right: Mark Murphy, RFS – Willow Tree; AG David Ford standing in for David Cotsios, VRA - Batlow –
Winner in Volunteer capacity; Danielle Osborne, SES – Lightnight Ridge; Minister for Emergency Services,
The Hon David Elliott MP; DG Stephen Humphreys D9675; Grant Prendergast, Ambulance – Murwillumbah;
Dr Peter Taylor, MR – Shoalhaven; Graham Parks, Fire and Rescue – Leeton – Winner in Paid Capacity.
Rotary Emergency Services
Community Awards
O
n July 23, 2016, emergency representatives from the Steering This year, of the 24 finalists, 17 are
services personnel, the Committee who work tireless together from 100km outside of Sydney; from all
Minister for Emergency from January to August each year. parts of the State.
Services, The Hon David Elliott MP, Nominations were received Each finalist and his/her partner
their Commissioners, Commissioners from all parts of the State and were joined with more than 350 guests
Representative, family, friends and judged by panels of Rotarians in for the dinner; with overnight
colleagues joined with Rotarians from five Rotary Districts. Each panel accommodation in Sydney provided
all Districts in NSW to celebrate this carefully considers the nominations through the generosity of Gold
year’s 24 finalists from Fire & Rescue for evidence of ‘Service Above Self’, Partner – Bankstown Sports Club
NSW; Ambulance NSW; Rural Fire what the officer does over and above and the RC of Sydney Cove. The ES
Service NSW; State Emergency Service his/her normal role, ranks the finalists, Agency assistsed with travel where
NSW; Volunteer Rescue Association returns the decision for probity necessary.
NSW and Marine Rescue NSW. checking by each of the Emergency The overall two winners are:
This, the second year for the event Service agencies for approval to »» Captain Graham Parks, Fire and
to be held state-wide, was again proceed. Four from each Agency were Rescue NSW - Leeton
supported by the Platinum Partner invited to accept the nomination and »» Deputy Captain David Cotsios,
NRMA Insurance, together with Gold confirm their willingness to proceed. Volunteer Rescue Association
Partner, Remondis, supported by Silver The nominations of the six who are – Batlow
and Bronze Partners and organisations ranked as the winners of each of the Supported by the following Officers
supporting the celebration which six Agencies are then forwarded to representing their Agencies:
was held in the Dockside Pavilion, the District Governor who convenes a »» Grant Prendergast, Manager,
Darling Harbour. panel of DG’s across the State to put Ambulance NSW – Murwillumbah
Guests were met on arrival forward their final two winners – an »» Dr Peter Taylor, Regional First
by Rotarians and Commissioner’s officer in a paid capacity and the other Aid Trainer, Marine Rescue NSW –
Emergency Services – ES - a volunteer. Shoalhaven
24 THE VOLUNTEER | SEPTEMBER 2016ROTARY COMMUNITY AWARDS
NSWSES finalists with the Acting Commissioner.
»» Mark Murphy, Operations years of an Australian Rotary Health PhD July 22, 2017 is the date set for the
Response and Coordination, research scholarship for Post-Traumatic 3rd annual Rotary Emergency Services
Rural Fire Service, Willow Tree Stress Disorder – PTSD for officers in Community Awards - RESCA. Visit the
»» Daniele Osborne, General Land these agencies. This is the first of its kind website www.rotaryESCawards.org.au
Rescue Volunteer, State Emergency for ES personnel. We are looking forward for progressive updates and information.
Service – Lightning Ridge to the scholar being announced and Rotary Clubs are encouraged
Each of the finalist has committed to visit introduced in the not too distance future. to organise their own local awards
their local Rotary Clubs to share their Ms Jacki Johnson, Group Executive as a Vocational Service Project and
story. Their information can be gained for People Performance and Reputation, membership initiative, to highlight,
from their District Representative on the in her presentation on behalf of the publicly recognise and thank all
Project Steering Committee or through Principal Partner, NRMA, expressed emergency services personnel whilst
Dot Hennessy, Chair, 0412 120 314 – her appreciation and honour to be able promoting Rotary, Rotary Projects and
dothennessy@gmail.com to attend to be involved in the Awards, their own Rotary Club. Those recognised
Through social media, the awards congratulated and thanked all the finalists at this level can be moved forward to
attained a reach of 116,063 between for their dedication, their families, nominate at the State event.
July 20 and 26 on Facebook. The event those present and especially spoke in These Awards are held in the first
Manager Rotarian Carole Johnston is support for the PTSD Scholarship and half of each year and complement the
the dedicated guru on social media the importance of this initiative. Police Awards to be held on November
with feeding on FB every day after the During the 2016-2017 Rotary Year, the 4, in the second half of the year.
announcement of the finalists, including ESA team will be visiting and attending For further information, contact
an individual profile about each of the 24 District Conferences and District Dot Hennessy, above mentioned
finalists in the last week, congratulating Assemblies, where possible, throughout for RESCA and John Given, jgiven@
all four from each ES Agency. NSW, to promote the project whilst zions.com.au/ phone 0414 188 711.
In 2015, funds raised from the project encouraging Rotary Clubs to identify
were committed to the first of three and nominate their own local heroes. By Dot Hennessy
NSWSESVA.ORG.AU 25You can also read
