Community
23 May, 2025
Milestone year makes WOW Day extra special
THE Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) encouraged all Victorians to show their appreciation for SES volunteers as part of National Volunteer Week celebrations, with Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day) also taking place this week.
WOW Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the invaluable contributions of the more than 5000 SES volunteers in Victoria who serve their communities 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This year’s WOW Day holds added meaning as VICSES celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of dedicated volunteer service to the people of Victoria.
Camperdown SES brigade member Kylie Warren said she enjoyed the satisfaction she felt from attending incidents and being able to help people when they needed it most.
“You get the sense of satisfaction of doing that and you get to learn a whole lot of skills along the way,” she said,
“I just wanted to put more of myself out into the community to give back and to help others in their time of need.”
VICSES acting chief officer operations Alistair Drayton said days such as WOW Day were a great opportunity for residents to extend their gratitude to the volunteers of the SES.
“On behalf of the organisation and the communities we serve, thank you to each and every one of our volunteers for your commitment, courage, and community spirit,” he said.
“With over 35,000 calls for assistance in the past year alone, it’s clear our volunteers are more vital than ever.
“WOW Day gives us a chance to pause and say a heartfelt thank you.”
The SES is always looking for new members to join up, with Ms Warren encouraging residents to speak with local SES members and find out more about the organisation.
“I think if they have a slight interest, or even an inclination towards it, to come and see us and ask about it and see what’s involved and see if it’s for them,” she said.
“Even if it’s not something that interests them to start with, there’s plenty of things they can do off their own back towards that – such as preparing themselves around their homes and businesses, just starting small like clearing out gutters.
“With the way the weather has been going, it’s a ‘prepare yourself first’ situation.
“Preparedness is always the key.”
For more information on how to sign up, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.
Read More: local