TAYLOR EMERGENCY SERVICES HUBS

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:36): I would like to speak today with pride about the local emergency services hubs in Taylor. The emergency services hubs in Taylor form more than a set of disaster response centres for our community. They are part of the community and they define the volunteering tradition in the north. Among these fantastic volunteers is the committed State Emergency Service team at Edinburgh.

The SES Edinburgh unit manage a large northern area, including the suburbs of Elizabeth, Paralowie, Gawler, Burton, Two Wells, Virginia, Salisbury, Andrews Farm and One Tree Hill. The Edinburgh unit currently has around 35 volunteer members, with Mr John Lawrence, the unit manager, stressing that there is always a continuing need for new members to join the team there. They are always happy to train new members and their families, including sons and daughters, mothers and fathers.

The typical SES assists in severe weather conditions, such as storms, floods and heatwaves. For example, the SES assists with removing fallen trees and branches from roads that are a risk to residents. The SES helps with temporary repairs to buildings and homes affected by wild weather, replacing roof tiles and covering roof holes. Volunteers can expect to be called in by the SA police force to assist in search and rescue, or help with stabilising buildings that have been affected by motor vehicle accidents.

New recruits can expect to receive SES training courses, involving induction and basic skills, first aid, basic rescue, equipment handling and land search, with certificates available. All training is free of charge and is scheduled outside normal working hours to allow people to participate. My office has been assisting our local SES unit with grant applications and representations to our government, as well as encouraging potential new volunteers to give it a go and help our community. We always need new local people who are willing to join up and serve one or two nights a week, with the occasional weekend, for our community.

I was very lucky to accompany the Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon. Jennifer Rankine, recently on a visit to the SES Edinburgh unit a few weeks ago. While meeting volunteers and coordinators at the unit, minister Rankine presented a ministerial commendation to Mr Bob Allert for his extraordinary service to the state SES. Mr Allert has served with the SES for an average of 2,000 hours a year, and he has been averaging this sort of commitment since the year 2000. This sort of dedicated service instantly caught our attention.

During the minister's visit we were also able to visit the Two Wells brigade of the Country Fire Service, another group which is very committed to our community in the north. Groups like the CFS at Two Wells form more than just a volunteering group, they are the backbone of our communities. They form part of the tradition of community service in a town like Two Wells and I cannot commend their service highly enough. I will continue my engagement with these incredible groups in my area and continue to support them in every way I can as the local member.