Enfield State Emergency Service Unit

Mr FULBROOK (Playford) (12:35): With the utmost of respect, it is my pleasure to move:

That this house notes in 2025 Enfield State Emergency Service Unit celebrates its 60^th anniversary and expresses its deepest and sincerest appreciation to volunteers, past and present, for their service, acknowledging their kindness, bravery, sacrifice and dedication in helping to protect lives and maintain community safety.

I must confess that when I first got into this role, I had formed the view that my community was serviced by the great team at the Salisbury SES. It was not until I took a tour of the Salisbury facilities and saw a map of the territory they covered that I realised that the electorate of Playford was split in half, with a team based in Enfield providing coverage across Parafield Gardens, Mawson Lakes and Green Fields all the way up to Kings Road. This prompted a very apologetic MP to front up to their headquarters in Northfield to beg for forgiveness and part with a few dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Fortunately for me, the Enfield unit have a good sense of humour, and it has been a pleasure ever since getting to know these fantastic volunteers. Before I delve into this speech, I want to be clear that, having served as the adviser to the emergency services minister and having the privilege to visit many SES units, I feel it must go on record that across the state these people are the salt of the earth. While I may be singling out Enfield today, I think you are all brilliant. Specifically in the case of Salisbury, I will most certainly make sure that your day in this chamber will also come.

This year, the team at Enfield celebrate their 60^th anniversary, and this gives us time to reflect on the volunteers who have selflessly served many communities not just within Adelaide's inner to mid north but across the state and indeed the country. Back in 1962, out of fear of Cold War nuclear attacks, the Playford government appointed a part-time commissioner and full-time deputy commissioner of civil defence. Local councils were then given the task of educating the public and training volunteers in this field. While the fear of nuclear attacks subsided, the seeds had already been sown for six decades of success following the establishment of the Enfield unit in 1965.

This was a decision of the local council, with the initial headquarters established at the old Enfield council chambers at the corner of Regency and Main North roads. As I was told, this was then sold to Tom the Cheap to set up a supermarket, with the unit lined up to move into a tin shed. The suggestion did not go down too well, resulting in a very successful plan B that has stood the test of time. What was once the Enfield rubbish dump was then filled in and made way for a new and vastly improved headquarters for the team, which has served as home ever since.

While there is always work to be done in improving facilities, to say the early days were modest, with converted baker's vans and an open-top fire truck, would not be too much of a stretch. Beginning with two ex-transportable Housing Trust houses, a former wartime munitions store and an asbestos-ridden condemned church that served as the training hall, slowly and gradually facilities became more fit for purpose. While the church took a lot of acrylic paint to stabilise its asbestos, it is fondly remembered for its beautiful polished floor for dancing and for its A-frame roofing that got good use in rescue drills.

While I will keep this brief, gradually the mantra of civil defence slowly evolved as the service became more focused on responding to natural disasters, with a change of name to the SA Civil Defence and Emergency Services and by 1974 adopting the name South Australian SES. I could go on for a bit, even homing in on the origins of civil defence and how they can be traced further back to the Second World War, but today's motion is really intended to celebrate the service, history and dedication of the Enfield unit.

To spell out its importance to us historically, I raise two key events that really have become ingrained in our local psyche, these being Cyclone Tracy and the Y2K bug, and how the Enfield unit was pivotal in our state's response to both. As someone who lived in Darwin for a few years, I am fascinated by the strategic role the headquarters played in the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy. For several weeks after the devastating events, the facility was serviced 24/7 as the radio room monitored and communicated with the convoys of aid heading from Adelaide via Port Augusta and Alice Springs as they reached Darwin.

This became the state nerve centre, with information relayed across the country, made possible by the unit's tower that sits up on high ground and the very long HF antenna system facilitating communication across the country. The efforts were valiant, with volunteers sleeping on chairs in the radio room to ensure everything stayed afloat during one of our country's most difficult chapters. A significant number of members also ended up at Adelaide Airport, emptying out the planes and helping out with evacuees, assisting them with registration, and then cleaning the Hercules aircraft out before they were sent back to the Top End.

The communications equipment used by the unit also meant the site for a long time was considered backup to SES headquarters. It climbed the final rung of the ladder for one night only, with Enfield serving as a marshalling point and SES headquarters in the management of the Y2K bug. With considerable worry that the power would go out in the CBD, the headquarters' direct road access to all corners of the city meant it was perfect to stage crews from multiple units. Members remembered the final day of last millennium fondly with a massive barbecue, a lot of camaraderie and a few laughs when midnight struck and everyone quickly realised nothing happened and they all went home. I am sure they all felt a lot better than I did the next morning; I can recall waking up with a hangover not too far away from the site in Northfield.

These may have been two of the major jobs that they have been involved in, but we know that jobs come in all shapes and sizes. Last financial year alone, the team answered 314 requests for assistance. I understand the most frequent tasks centre around fallen trees, followed by storms and flooding, building impact and civilian rescue.

Locally we have a lot to be grateful for, but this appreciation extends further with teams of Enfield volunteers sent interstate to events in New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. In the last fortnight we also had a member return from North Queensland who had assisted with the horrendous flooding that they recently experienced. While it remains fresh, let's not forget the gallant effort made by members for the assistance they rendered in the Murray River floods of 2022-23. It is not just locals who benefit when these selfless volunteers come together to aid the community. Hopefully it is all quiet on the horizon, but occasionally we might get a year of extreme weather, such as the 2016-17 financial year when the team answered 647 requests for assistance all over our state.

In putting this speech together, there was consensus that I take a moment to reiterate that the unit, and indeed the remaining 68 in South Australia, are made up of volunteers. There is no money involved, just the sense of satisfaction one gets from giving back to their community. At present there are a healthy 42 official members but there is always room for more, so do not hold back: contact unit manager, Kon Kotsiou, if you think you could make a valued impact on this front.

As I mentioned, Kon is the current unit manager but over the 60 years a further nine have come before him. Back in the early days the position was known as unit controller, originally held by W.S. Britton and later assumed by Noel Hodges, Bill Arnold, Noel Salmon, Arno Attema, Fred Lawrence, Peter Cumberworth, Scott Jameson and Jacob Brodie.

From this I want to highlight the help I have received from Arno Attema in putting this speech together. Arno's contribution to the Enfield group and the SES in general is very special and deserving of praise. While he is based out at Netley these days, collectively he is still going strong at 56 years of service, of which 45 have been spent at Enfield. Hidden between the lines of this motion is a very special mention to you, as I am sure there are legions of people who may not be here today or in such a fortunate position without your selfless commitment.

Interestingly, I found out that through the Enfield SES, Arno also met his wife, Lesley. The unit's current longest serving member is Patrick Thompson who has worn the orange overalls with pride for 24 years and nine months. Noteworthy to this is his wife Karen's contribution at 21 years, giving a total of 45 years for this amazing couple. For this, and the remaining crew members, I say a heartfelt thank you.

Noting that the unit runs on the support of volunteers, the importance of donations and support they receive from the community should also be stressed. The team asked me to give a shout-out to Bunnings, in particular their Windsor Gardens store that has allowed them to host their barbecues to raise some extra funds. Bunnings has been generous in donating vouchers for an upcoming raffle that will be drawn on 10 May.

This day is particularly important to celebrations as part of the South Australian History Festival with Enfield SES hosting an open day. The community are encouraged to come along, see some incredible equipment and volunteers at work, as well as gain an appreciation for history that I have only scratched the surface of. Of course, if anyone wants to add to the raffle prizes, anyone in the room, they would be most welcome. While I have dropped one hint, there is room for a few more, so if anyone has their chequebook handy, the team would not say no to a bitumenised car park, new computers, or the chance to get their training tower back up and running—hint, hint.

In wrapping up, I also want to end with some extra thanks to deputy unit manager, Julie Williams, and Nick Farr, who along with Kon and Arno were amazing in helping me pull this history together. I also want to include just a few words from the Mayor of Salisbury, Gillian Aldridge, who, when she found out I was doing this speech, asked me to include a few of her own words, and I quote:

For sixty years, the Enfield SES have served our community through storms, floods and other emergencies. Their dedication embodies the true Aussie spirit of mateship, and our city is safer and stronger because of their service.

She is not alone in reflecting this sentiment of gratitude. We all have a lot to thank you for and these words will never underline the full extent of our appreciation. I thank members past and present, and with that, I commend the motion to the house.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Before I call the next speaker, is that the unit which Rosco belongs to? I do not know his full name.

Mr FULBROOK: I am unsure.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:46): As the shadow minister for emergency services, and on behalf of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition, I want to congratulate the Enfield State Emergency Service Unit on its 60^th anniversary. It is a great motion to recognise those members past and present and the SES unit turning 60 this year. It is an impressive accomplishment and milestone. The community and all those involved should be proud. We all know that in the case of an emergency the phone rings hot at a branch when people are looking for support and help when dealing with unannounced storms or activity.

The Enfield SES has around 45 active volunteers. They train together every week, learning new skills, pumping techniques, heights training, rough terrain navigation, using power tools and chainsaws, first aid and much more. They have been an instrumental unit for the northern suburbs area. Particularly in 2024, they assisted other SES units 14 times and responded to 292 requests for assistance throughout the year.

At the end of the year, the unit also handed out several awards. The Rookie of the Year went to Salomé. The Manager's Award went to Betty, and the Tim Jones Memorial Award went to Rajesh. Late last year a time capsule was buried to celebrate 50 years for the SES, and it will be opened in 2049. The unit was recently able to purchase a new trailer thanks to grants and donation support from the local community.

To celebrate 60 years, they will be having an open day on Saturday 10 May from 11am. It is a great opportunity for the local community to engage, to go out there and meet the volunteers who give their time and effort, and sometimes put their life on the line to keep people safe. So come out, meet the volunteers, have a look at the important work they do and learn about the history through interactive displays.

While we are celebrating 60 years at Enfield, I want to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the emergency service personnel in my electorate of Chaffey. Chaffey is no different from any other SES frontline responders. Many SES and CFS stations across the electorate contribute to the state's volunteer base. I have branches in Blanchetown, Barmera, Loxton, Berri, Renmark and Paringa. The Riverland operations coordination unit has three teams, at Renmark, Berri and Loxton.

We do rely heavily on their service. The Riverland has seen more than its fair share of natural weather events that have created chaos around the river and its corridor. Obviously, we have seen a number of damaging storms over recent years. With those storms usually come power outages and a significant amount of damage. A lot of what we have in the Riverland is irrigated, whether it be trees or horticulture, which means that they have an artificial root system that does not penetrate down deep, so when we see big wind events and storm events, we see a lot of trees blown over and a lot of power lines that have been brought down. We always see those emergency services, particularly the SES personnel, on the ground.

In 2019 and 2020, we had significant bushfires. Of course, who could forget the most recent, 2022-23, flood event? SES played a lead role in preparation and clean-up—preparing for storms and natural weather events and recovery response. Seven hundred personnel came from right around South Australia to help with preparation for the floods. We always say that there is plenty of time to prepare, but there is never enough time to prepare for the unannounced.

The SES are a great example of dedication and selflessness shown for and on behalf of our community. I want to acknowledge all of our SES emergency services volunteers right around South Australia. Thank you for the outstanding work and dedication that you give to keep our communities safer but also respond to those weather events.

I would like to wish the Enfield SES all the best for their 60^th anniversary celebrations. For those local community people, if you have a moment, get down there and visit their history day and celebrate 60 years of success.

The Hon. A. MICHAELS (Enfield—Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Minister for Arts) (12:52): I rise to support this motion. I want to thank the member for Playford for bringing the motion to the house and for the kind words of the member for Chaffey as well. I want to congratulate the Enfield SES on 60 years of outstanding service provided to my local community and, more broadly, congratulate all South Australian SES volunteers.

The Enfield SES is located in my electorate, right next door to beautiful Stockade Botanical Park. They have an active membership of about 45 devoted members. As others have said, there is an open day to celebrate their 60^th anniversary on 10 May, which I will be at. It is part of History Festival, and I encourage everyone to attend. They had a similar open day in 2024, which gave a really good insight into 60 years of history of the Enfield SES. It is a good chance to explore their facilities and see the displays, so I encourage everyone to attend on 10 May.

I really want to thank the Enfield SES community for their commitment. Of course, 2024 was not a quiet year. They had 292 requests for assistance. Most of those were fallen trees, but there were also some flood situations and some incidents involving building impacts which they helped with, so we are very grateful for their assistance. They also helped with other SES and other agencies on other occasions as well.

Volunteers at the Enfield SES are completely devoted, and they really do exemplify the dedication and commitment in stepping forwards in moments of crisis to help protect and serve our community. Whether it is the aftermath of a severe weather event or road traffic accidents, they are absolutely incredibly important to our community, and I think we should all be thanking our SES volunteers for their service.

Of course, the Enfield SES does incredible work. They are also very active participants in our local community. They participate in events like the Port Adelaide Enfield council's Christmas pageant and the Bay to Birdwood motoring event, and they have really strong bonds with our community. They certainly show a very strong community spirit and support for our local community. If anyone bumps into an Enfield SES team member, I certainly hope you thank them this year for their service and particularly congratulate them on their 60 years.

In recent years we have seen an increase in severe weather events and destructive storms, and the Enfield SES has consistently been on the front foot, really demonstrating their immense level of skill and commitment. Clearing fallen trees, dealing with damaged rooftops and helping vulnerable members of our community has been a really important part of their work.

They are comprised of a diverse group of volunteers, from teachers to tradespeople, to students, to retirees. They undertake extensive training to equip themselves with the necessary skills required for those emergencies. I have had an opportunity to see firsthand their training procedures, which include rescue techniques, first aid, chainsaw operation, and incident management. All of those programs are really vital to making sure that they operate effectively and safely under pressure.

Despite their volunteer status, these men and women exhibit incredible professionalism, skill and dedication, often seen in full-time emergency personnel. They willingly sacrifice their precious time with their families, give up their weekends, and even put their own safety on the line to protect their fellow residents. To ensure that the Enfield SES and all SES units throughout South Australia can continue, it is important that we come together to support these frontline volunteers and to encourage volunteer recruitment. That is really critical in this day and age.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every volunteer at the Enfield SES. They are the backbone of community safety during times of crisis. We, in this place, want them to know that we stand with them in appreciation and support for the significant contributions they make. Their dedication does not go unnoticed and our community is infinitely safer because of their hard work and selflessness.

With that, I want to wish the Enfield SES a happy 60-year anniversary. I want to thank Kon and the team at the Enfield SES, and thank the member for Playford for bringing this motion, and I commend it to the house.

Mr FULBROOK (Playford) (12:57): I want to thank both the member for Chaffey and the member for Enfield for contributing to this motion. The member for Chaffey touched on—probably in a more profound way than I did—how proud the community is of both this unit and also the SES more broadly. I would like to reiterate his sentiment by just saying that we really do feel the pride in having these people walk amongst us in the community. He also highlighted how they have played a pivotal role in assisting other SES units across the state. I am quite certain that, over time, it would have included units from his part of the world, especially during the River Murray flooding crisis of recent years.

Interestingly, and I am really grateful that he raised it, he mentioned a time capsule. When I was doing my research on the whole thing it was put to me that there was a time capsule recently placed within the unit. I do not want to be incorrect but I think there might be more than one. If this speech and the contribution from the other members have any historical value, maybe in a few years' time they can refer back to Hansard and take my words with some element of authority that there is something to look at underneath the surface, and I am sure it will be useful.

I will move on very quickly to also say thank you to the member for Enfield for her contribution. She supports the SES without fail. I know that she is very proud to have them within her community as well. I will end by saying congratulations to the Enfield SES. If anyone is watching, please attend the History Festival on 10 May and, most importantly, if you can, join up. I commend this motion to the chamber.

Motion carried.

The SPEAKER: I think, if I remember correctly, I attended the 50^th birthday celebrations. I did, thank you.

Sitting suspended from 13:00 to 14:00.