By CASEY NEILL
SPRINGVALE SES has a new name.
The unit will from today (Monday) be known as Greater Dandenong SES.
“All SES units are dependent on their local council for funding, along with some funding that we get from the state as well,” unit controller Paul Daniel said.
“There is a move at the moment for all units to align themselves with council as far as name is concerned.
“Historically this unit is called Springvale SES because there was a Springvale council.”
Mr Daniel said the official name change would take some time to complete.
“I think SES have identified 62 things that need to change!” he said.
“It was something that was voted on by the membership.
“It would be fair to say that some members were still very attached to the Springvale name. But the majority voted in favour of the change.”
He said it would help the municipality’s residents to identify the crew as their own.
“It would be very easy to assume that because it’s Springvale SES that we only look after Springvale, whereas the reality is that we look after the whole of the City of Greater Dandenong,” he said.
“From Noble Park over to Springvale, over to Dandenong, down to Bangholme, basically. It’s quite a big area.”
Mr Daniel moved to the crew about seven months ago from Chelsea SES.
“Before that I was with Red Cross and prior to that, when I was living in Tassie, I was a volunteer ambulance officer,” he said.
“I’ve always had a keen interest in the emergency services.”
He needs more volunteers to work alongside him, answering calls for help in storm and flood situations and assisting police with evacuations and searches for evidence and people.
Mr Daniel particularly needs people who are available to attend callouts during the day.
“I could easily do with another 20 or 30,” he said.
“We’re not just looking for people to get dressed up in orange and go out when it’s cold and wet and windy.
“Because this is effectively a small business, we need a whole bunch of people in admin positions as well.”
Scott De Lacy is the crew’s community education representative and helps to spread the emergency management message at events, Bunnings and Masters stores, and schools and Scout groups.
He also organises information packs covering floods, storm preparation kits and home emergency kits.
“The idea is that we are going to target the transient renters. The real estate agents will include that in their welcome pack,” he said.
Mr De Lacy joined the SES about two years ago.
“I’ve always wanted to participate and not only learn the skills but do something for the community, and I’ve found what you put in is what you get out,” he said.
“The more you put in, the more skills you learn, the more confident you become.”
Visit www.springvaleses.org.au for more information or to apply to join.
