Local SES volunteer reflects on recent deployment

A BELLARINE Special Emergency Services volunteer has returned from Queensland’s ongoing natural disasters, saying it has further increased his drive to assist the community back at home.

Bellarine SES member of 12 years and Ocean Grove resident Richard Gasior volunteered to join his fellow SES members up in Queensland over the New Year period, assisting on hundreds of daily jobs in towns such as Helensvale, Coomera, and Hope Island on the Gold Coast.

Mr Gasior travelled with a group of eight responders, including two Torquay personnel and a member from Bannockburn, alongside newly trained CFA Victoria members.

The area was hit by an inland tornado over the holiday period before heavy rain caused devastating flash flooding to thousands of residences.

“It was mainly a retirement village part of the Gold Coast, but it was devastating to those area, trees were completely uprooted and ripped out before the floods started – we worked in rain every day,” Mr Gasior said.

“We were there over New Year’s Eve, I was deployed for a five-day shift just after Christmas, one day travelling there, one day travelling home, and three working days in between.

“As it always is, it’s just awesome to see SES volunteers from all over the country working together to help others.”

Mr Gasior joined the SES 12 years ago and has been on three deployments in the past three years alone, assisting first responders in Western Australia following Cyclone Seroja in 2021, and visiting Port Macquarie and Gosford following their floods in 2022.

SES deployments interstate are not mandatory, but Mr Gasior said his personal obligation to make his community and other communities safer was an ideal he lives by every day.

“It’s always been something I’ve had great satisfaction in doing, it was probably my main reason for joining up at that open day in 2012.

“We have a very diverse group of volunteers at Bellarine SES and a base that offers are really strong and comprehensive training regime that can prepare anyone for any situation once qualified.

“We have about 21 operational members at the moment and handful of associate members, but we’re in need of volunteers based around the Drysdale, Curlewis and Clifton Springs areas for daytime work and road crash rescue response units.”

Bellarine SES deputy controller Emma Hayes said now is the perfect time to join the unit.

“We are so proud of Richard for his time and efforts on his recent deployment.

“We as a unit respond locally but also help out in other parts of the state or country as required. Our training and skills enable us to have the flexibility to be able to do this.

“We are quite short on members and really need the local community to reach out and enquire about joining.”

To become a volunteer at Bellarine SES, email [email protected] or head to the SES’s website.