By Mikayla Van Loon
As the recovery effort gets underway in the Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley and urban fringe of the Yarra Ranges, SES and CFA crews will also be checking in with their members after an extensive effort to restore safety in those areas.
Lilydale SES unit controller Shaun Caulfield said now that members have been able to reach most calls for assistance, his team can turn to servicing equipment and vehicles before heading back out to help with recovery.
Volunteer SES and CFA members risk their lives, give up time and put others first whenever there is a disaster, accident or incident.
Montrose CFA captain Rob Waters said the storm conditions proved very difficult and at times were very dangerous.
“It’s just unbelievable and you’ve just got to stay vigilant, sometimes it is a bit harrowing when you are working in an environment like that because the rain and the wind is just absolutely incredible, it’s nothing you’ve seen before,” Mr Waters said.
“You can appreciate and understand that working throughout a storm is very dangerous and very trying too.”
Both Lilydale and Emerald SES units have had rescue vehicles damaged after attending a rescue of a man trapped on the mountain, luckily none of the crew members were injured.
“The gentleman from that is going to be in hospital for a while but he is going to recover fully which is great news,” Mr Caulfield said.
“We spoke to him in person yesterday (13 June) and got that bit of news which is fantastic for our guys, we don’t often get that bit of feedback.
“It’s nice to know our guys, putting their lives on the line to do that job, we had a positive outcome for that gentleman and his family.
“You look back at those things in hindsight you think that was probably a little bit crazy to go and do that but then you have a positive outcome and you know that it is worth it and that’s why you do it.”
Mr Waters said now that the worst of the storm is over, his members have turned to looking after their own properties, many of which also experienced damage.
“It’s about us thinking outside the square and how do we help the community in time of need and also how do we help our members considering they’ve been out for long durations of time especially during that Wednesday night and the Thursday following.”
Although insurance will cover the cost of damage to Lilydale SES’s rescue vehicle, Mr Caulfield said donations are still very much appreciated.
“We still appreciate donations of any kind that go towards equipment and vehicle replacement and upgrades,” he said.
“We usually gain donations through intersection collections but we haven’t been able to do that during Covid.”
As a fully volunteer run organisation, SES units don’t often get much funding from the State government.
For Lilydale it is around $30,000 a year to cover fuel, insurance, power and gas bills and routine maintenance.
To donate go to www.lilydalesesrescue.com.au/donate.
