“We never know when we are likely to be called upon to deal with emergencies like flooding, fallen trees and damage to buildings,” Goulburn Unit Controller Daryl Skinner said.

“There has been a lot of SES awareness and recruitment advertising across the media and we spent some time at the Goulburn Australia Day celebrations as well as some time out at Marulan and then at the Goulburn Show, which has resulted in people coming forward who are interested in joining.

“We are always looking for additional volunteers because not everyone is available whenever we are called upon. Crews can be asked to assist not only in the local area but also can be called upon when there are emergencies all over the state and sometimes even interstate.”

Some of the training courses involve skills that are transferable to members’ work places. The chainsaw course for example is similar to the Certificate Two course in crosscut and felling skills. The base level training includes SES Fundamentals,traffic safety, flood rescue awareness and communication.

New members can participate in the wide variety of SES activities virtually as soon as they are issued with their uniforms, working as a team in a ratio of two qualified team members to one trainee. 

Goulburn SES mostly gets called out to deal with storm and tempest damage, this ranges from trees and branches blocking access or falling on structures, clearing blocked gutters (sometimes resulting in internal home water damage), re-securing roof sheeting that has come loose or securing temporary coverings over holes in roofs.

Occasionally members are called upon for flood rescues and evacuations or assist other emergency services in their operations.

Mr Skinner said that Goulburn SES unit has about 40 members. Neighbouring Goulburn are the Crookwell, Collector and Windellama SES Units.