From the SESVA President Greg Cook
At the end of July and beginning of August SES unit volunteers have been busy meeting the needs of our communities during wide spread Storms. Thank you for the sleepless days and nights; your work never goes unappreciated.
There are three main topics to share briefly with you.
1. Exercise FAULTLINE sees the return of the National Disaster Rescue Challenge to WA. Teams from across Australia WA will in Perth in October, including a team of SES volunteers from WA. See page 2 for more information.
2. The Combined Emergency Services Legislation Workshop was held on Saturday 9 July at the Cottesloe Town Hall. We had 44 SES Volunteer attendees from around the state of Western Australia listening to Dr Michael Eburn provide a brief on what legislation is in place in other states and territories of Australia and Mr Craig Masarei explaining the Parliamentary Westminster System in WA. Read on further in the newsletter for details.
I would describe this day as laying an open foundation for Unit Managers and leaders to embrace ownership and take this back to SES Unit Members for consultation. A follow up paper will be sent to each Unit that will describe the options and elements that are open for us to choose as a base platform in the formal correspondence to be sent to Government on the combined wishes of SES volunteers and their communities. I do also clearly understand that we do represent a position that is greater than 50% of the membership as we are advocates in democracy. It’s your choice, I hope you do participate in our discussions for the health of the functional SES into the future. We are talking a period of 20 years and beyond.
3. Please also note that your SES Volunteers Association AGM is being held at on 11th September at Burswood. That’s the Sunday after the WAFES conference and of course the morning after the Awards function. Please ensure that each unit has an authorized proxy to attend. This is after all your Association. Have your say in its leadership. We will allow for a Q&A session of up to one hour after the formal meeting to answer as many questions as possible.
The last two years have been a great experience in opening up the workings of the Association. Thank you all and I look forward to seeing many of you at the VA exercises in August and September, and of course at the WAFES Conference.
