The NSW SES is celebrating 60 years of service this year, the organisation began in 1955 following disastrous floods across NSW that caused major loss of life as well as massive damage to property and infrastructure. The NSW SES has grown and diversified since its inception and has been instrumental in the response to many disasters and emergencies.
The NSW SES is the combat agency for Floods, Tsunami and Storm operations. The SES also provides emergency response in the areas of road crash rescue, vertical rescue, flood rescue, land searches and many other supporting roles to other Emergency Services. The SES volunteers in their orange uniforms (jaffa’s) are often referred to as the “Swiss Army Knife of the Emergency Services”.
For me the SES has been a part of my life for more than 22 years. Through this series of Geo-Art caches I want to share some of my experiences and the roles of the SES.
The SES has varying roles within aviation. An SES Air observer may be asked to assist the Police in air searches. Air search roles may include spotting targets on the ground from the air or providing radio communications. Air observing is a very demanding task both mentally and physically, requiring intense concentration over extended periods of time. Aerial support in flood operations is often require for the transportation of supplies or personnel into affected areas.
The cache is at South 34 YWEX OEPI KSXU and East 150 CYAH FZIG+1 LPPV