NSW SES Wollongong Unit

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for our volunteers!

🌲 Several of our members attended two different missing person searches in the Waterfall area, in support of NSW SES Sutherland Shire.

👨‍💻 Our incident management operators also partnered up with NSW SES Shellharbour City Unit to participate in Exercise Nightfall, a training simulation based on historical weather events, designed to challenge our members.

🧡 Our community engagement team has been busy too, joining the Local Heroes day at Greenacres Disability Services, and attending the Eid in the Gong festival in partnership with the NSW SES Multicultural Liaison Unit.

🛥 Several of our members also visited Marine Rescue Port Kembla, building ties with their team and getting familiar with their equipment.

🧯 Many of our newer members have also been completing their Field Core Skills course, giving them the foundational field operator skills they'll need on the job.

🤝 To wrap it up, we were also represented at the NSW SES South Eastern Zone Commanders Conference, a networking and training opportunity for unit leaders.

Big thanks to everyone who’s been putting in the effort 👏

⚠️ SEVERE WEATHER WARNING: DAMAGING WINDS

📍Bulli to Kiama: DAMAGING WIND GUSTS in excess of 90 km/h may develop this evening and continue through early Friday.

ℹ️ NSW SES recommends:

🚗 Parking your car under secure cover and away from trees and powerlines.

🪢 Securing or putting away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.

📐Keeping at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.

☎️ Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.

☎️ For emergency assistance due to storm (wind) damage, call NSW SES on 132 500.

📱Stay updated on the Hazards Near Me NSW app or check out the Bureau website/app for full warning details: https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts.

Yesterday some of our volunteers from NSW SES Wollongong Unit & NSW SES Dapto Unit celebrated WOW Day in an unusual way - by donating blood with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood as part of the Emergency Services Blood Drive 💉

A special shout out to one of our team who was giving his 150th donation - awesome work Matt! 💪

You can get involved too! Check out https://www.lifeblood.com.au/ to see how you can provide life saving support 🧡

Happy National Volunteer Week everyone! 🧡

Across NSW, 4.9 million people volunteer, and we are proud to have around 11,000 of them in the NSW SES.

All our volunteers play a vital role, whether they are on the frontline, supporting operations, or helping their team behind the scenes.

This year’s theme, ‘Your year to volunteer’, is a great reminder of the impact volunteering has, not just on communities, but on each other. We are constantly inspired by the dedication of our members.

Thank you to all our volunteers for showing up, supporting one another, and making a difference every day.

Our volunteers were heartbroken to learn of the deaths of two volunteers at Marine Rescue Ballina overnight, who selflessly faced treacherous conditions in an effort to save a fellow boatie who was in distress.

Every volunteer wants to go home safely to their friends and family after a callout. It is a tragedy when this is not the outcome.

Our thoughts are with Marine Rescue and the Ballina community at this difficult time.

Last night was the darkest night ever experienced by Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers answer the call for help 24/7 and last night six members from Marine Rescue Ballina did just that. They launched with a single mission, to save lives on the water and assist a yacht, reported to be in difficulty off the South Ballina break wall.

Tragically, two of our volunteers lost their lives during the response.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said the devastating loss is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by volunteers who serve their communities.

“These two men were serving their local community and have made the ultimate sacrifice to help others.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of the deceased, their fellow crew members, the brave radio operators who handled the difficult communications during the incident, the entire Marine Rescue NSW family and the wider Ballina community during this incredibly difficult time.

“We are supporting our volunteers and their families through professional counselling and chaplaincy support.

“We ask that the privacy of those involved and their families be respected during this difficult time,” Commissioner Andrews said.

On Friday afternoon, NSW SES operators from NSW SES Wollongong Unit & Dapto Unit were again called to provide assistance to Illawarra Police Rescue Squad - NSW Police Force & NSW Ambulance.

Our members assisted with the extrication of a patient who had fallen into a dry creek bed, who was then transported to hospital in a stable condition.

Earlier this evening, operators from Wollongong and Dapto units worked with Illawarra Police Rescue Squad - NSW Police Force and specialists from NSW Ambulance to extricate a patient from an excavator that fell down a steep embankment in the Otford area.

Police have reported that the man was transported by road to hospital, in a stable condition.

Earlier this evening, operators from Wollongong and Dapto units worked with Illawarra Police Rescue Squad - NSW Police Force and specialists from NSW Ambulance to extricate a patient from an excavator that fell down a steep embankment in the Otford area.