Geraldton-Greenough SES branch calling for people to wear orange on Wednesday to support volunteers

The Geraldton-Greenough branch of the WA State Emergency Service is encouraging people to get behind the volunteers who contribute to community’s safety by wearing orange. Wear Orange Wednesday will be celebrated on May 22, recognising SES volunteers’ efforts. Geraldton-Greenough SES local manager Ross Jones said the colour was an important symbol of safety for the community. “The orange signifies what I’ve known for the last 37 years — we’re here to help,” he said. “The orange overalls rock up during the storm, a search, to help with logistical support where a fire is, or to help with water bomber refilling for planes when there’s a fire. “There’s so many things the SES can do in a community. We’re there in times when something needs to be done.” The SES is celebrating 65 years of protecting the WA community, while the Geraldton-Greenough branch will commemorate its 40th anniversary in August. According to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, nearly 2000 volunteers have provided more than 32,600 hours responding to incidents in WA over the past year. Mr Jones said the volunteers across different organisations in Geraldton formed an important part of the first responders team. “If it wasn’t for volunteers, the State wouldn’t be able to respond quickly to a lot of these emergencies,” he said. “First responders in a lot of country towns are basically the glue of the town. They keep everything together, keep everything going. The reach of the Geraldton-Greenough SES extends further than just the Greater Geraldton area. In the event of an emergency, volunteers have been called to travel as far as Kalbarri, Morawa, and Meekatharra. Mr Jones, who became a full member of the SES in 1987 after beginning through his work in the police force, recalled one of his earliest responses when he was living south of Perth. “We had two tornadoes come through Halls Head and through the centre of Mandurah,” he said. “It sticks in my mind because it was my first emergency to go through.” Geraldton’s Queens Park Theatre will be one of 51 monuments lit up in orange across WA on Wednesday.