THERE are lightning bolt moments that change the course of a life forever.
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A fork in the road decision whether to continue with life as we know it, or take a new direction without knowing where opportunities, challenges and pitfalls may lay.
For NSW SES Bega Unit controller Yvette Ringland, there was plenty of lightning in 2012 when heavy rain fell in the Bega Valley.
The Bega River was on flood watch and the town was on high alert.
Given many areas of town are low-lying, flood watch was not an uncommon scenario for locals.
At the time, Yvette was driving to Sydney and took the opportunity to escape the weather and the tedium of the highway and enjoy a dinner break at a local café in Ulladulla.
There, the café owner explained his wife was a NSW SES volunteer and had taken an SES team to Bega to prepare for flooding.
As a local resident, Yvette knew the risks floods posed to the Bega township and local business.
The conversation with the café owner sparked a community spirit chord in Yvette and she decided to volunteer with the NSW SES and assist in re-establishing the Bega SES Unit.
There, she was joined by other like-minded volunteers who enjoy assisting their community.
“I envisaged myself filling sandbags, but the NSW SES has given me so many opportunities,” she said.
“Since joining the service, I’ve learned new skills and met some amazing, dedicated people.
“I’ve been challenged outside of my comfort zone by abseiling down a cliff, climbing on to roofs and travelling in a helicopter – not bad for someone a bit nervous about heights!” she added.
“It’s a great opportunity for someone looking to try something new and challenge themselves.”
During Yvette’s three years in the NSW SES, she has completed basic training in storm damage, basic rescue skills and completed more advanced training in flood boat operations and vertical rescue.
And the vertical rescue training was timely.
Bega Unit works closely with neighbouring volunteers from Bermagui and Eden Units and was recently called to assist Eden Unit with a vertical rescue after a man fell 50 metres down a cliff.
The situation worsened when two friends of the man also needed rescuing after becoming stuck when attempting to help him.
The units worked tirelessly in difficult conditions to successfully rescue the man.
Thankfully, the training had done its job.
Then last December, the Far South Coast was impacted by severe weather with more than 126mm of rain recorded in a 24-hour period, resulting in a busy two days for the unit.
The Bega River peaked at 6.22 metres, flooding streets across the town.
Extra emergency resources from other parts of the region were flown in to help.
NSW SES volunteers attended to six flood rescues during a 24-hour period, including a family stranded in floodwaters clinging to a tractor.
“It was certainly another challenging weather event for our unit,” Yvette said.
“We had multiple teams out in the weather, rescuing people trapped or isolated by rising floodwaters.
“Bega residents can be proud of how our local volunteers responded to calls for help.”
Yvette believes one of the most challenging tasks for the unit is educating drivers about making safer decisions and to never enter floodwaters.
“As we saw in our recent flood, we were called to assist residents, some of whom had driven into floodwaters putting themselves and their family at risk and becoming trapped in their vehicles,” she said.
Bega Unit is a small but growing unit and new volunteers are welcome.
The unit meets each Tuesday night at 6pm at the headquarters at 247 Newtown Rd to train and improve their skills.
“There is a role for everyone in the NSW SES,” Yvette said.
“In addition to our many outdoor roles, we need members who have computer and bookkeeping skills and are good communicators to manage our operations centre during large storm events.”
And new volunteers won’t be heading out to emergency events hungry after the recent installation of new kitchen facilities at their headquarters.
NSW SES corporate partner Origin has provided funding for the unit to purchase a new stove and barbecue, ensuring volunteers have basic facilities at their headquarters to enjoy after a long day climbing on roofs and clearing fallen trees.
Origin grant rewards Bega volunteers
THE Bega SES Unit and its Unit Controller, local volunteer Yvette Ringland, have been recognised and rewarded with the first ever $2500 “See Yourself in Orange” grant from Origin.
The “See Yourself in Orange” program - run by NSW SES community partner Origin - aims to recognise and reward volunteers.
It is also an opportunity for men and women in Bega and across the state to understand more about what is involved in being a NSW SES Volunteer, and to possibly consider donning the iconic orange overalls.
Ms Ringland was chosen by NSW SES and Origin as the first grant recipient for her commitment to the Bega community.
The $2500 grant from Origin has provided funding for the unit to purchase a new stove and barbecue, ensuring volunteers have quality equipment in their headquarters to enjoy during and after a long shift.
Amy Stockfeld, national campaigns and partnerships manager with Origin, said the actions of NSW SES volunteers give aid, comfort and support to many people during emergency events.
“These grants are Origin’s way of saying thank you to these volunteers by making their headquarters a little easier and more comfortable,” she said.
“See Yourself in Orange” focuses on recognising the great work undertaken by NSW SES volunteers across NSW, rewarding them for their community work, and assisting them with recruiting others to join the service.
To find out how to become a volunteer with the NSW SES, visit www.ses.nsw.gov.au.