SES Western Downs

30/03/2026

Vale Stephen Long,

Heartfelt condolences to Steve's family - Karen Long, Dean Long, Jade Woodhouse.

SES Western Downs very sadly acknowledge the passing of a local SES legend – Stephen (Steve) Long who passed on Thursday 26th of March following a courageous battle with illness.

Steve was a much loved and valued member of the Miles SES group and the Western Downs SES unit.

Steve contributed nearing 40years of not only valued SES service but of service to many other volunteer and community organisations throughout Queensland.

Steve joined the SES Queensland SES at Yaraka in 1993 and moved to Miles in 1999 where he was a Miles group member, and taking on the role of Group Leader from 2015 to 2020 and Deputy Local Controller from 2020-2022 with a brief stint with the Ilfracombe SES group.

Steve was heavily invested in his communities - he was instrumental in the introduction of Road Crash Rescue while volunteering in western Queensland locations and also volunteered his contributions to other organisations including Race clubs, Schools, Community groups and the Townsville based Volunteer Marine Rescue services.

Steve was certainly not limited by spirit - and attended nearly every training and meeting he possibly could where he contributed as a valued team member until Steve’s health limited his ability to attend activations. Steve continued with valued contributions to training and welfare of SES volunteers. As the recipient of the 2016 Regional Member of the Year award – Steve was acknowledged for his “outstanding drive and dedication to training and mentoring of SES members and providing ongoing strength and support to the Western Downs SES Unit”

Thanks, Steve, for the memories, thank you for your contributions and thank you for your friendship, care, commitment and laughter.

love from all of us in your orange family past and present.

“At the end of the day it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… it’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” – Denzel Washington

24/01/2026

Vale Peter Bolger - former SES Chinchilla Group Leader

SES Western Downs very sadly acknowledge the passing of a local SES legend - Peter who passed away on the 27th of December 2025.

Petr was a widely respected and valued member of the Chinchilla SES group and the Western Downs SES unit.

Pete proudly contributed nearly 28years of valued SES service in the Chinchilla area - a lengthy volunteering stint in anyones language.

Western Downs SES unit acknowledge the passing and the valued contributions of a kind soul who wanted to give and to share in his community.

Thanks Pete for the memories, the laughter, the guidance, the knowledge and thankyou for your friendship and laughter.

Its time to enjoy some fishing time mate - enjoy, you've earnt it.

love from all of us in your orange family past and present.

20/01/2025

Vale John Grealy

SES Western Downs very sadly acknowledge the passing of a local SES legend - John Grealy who passed suddenly on January 3rd 2025.

Johnny boy was a much loved and valued member of the Jandowae SES group and the Western Downs SES unit.

John proudly contributed an astounding nearly 40years of valued SES service in the Jandowae and Kingaroy areas - a feat rarely achieved.

John was certainly not limited by spirit - and attended nearly every training and meeting he possibly could where he contributed as a valued team member. John's health limited his ability to attend activations, but he relished the opportunity to don the orange, and to help out at community events, trail rides, Jimbour Opera and anything else where he could sneak away and grab a short nap in his favourite camp chair.

John's Western Downs SES unit comrades will form a guard of honour along with volunteers from Kingaroy SES to acknowledge the passing and the valued contributions of a gentle soul who wanted to give and to share in his community.

Thanks Johnny Boy for the memories, thankyou for your contributions and thankyou for your friendship and laughter.

Rest up, feet up, it's time to watch your favourite John Wayne westerns.

love from all of us in your orange family past and present.

18/11/2024

FYI - Jandowae
https://www.facebook.com/share/19ZoZfioy7/

*** This warning has been DOWNGRADED to ADVICE - Stay Informed 8.15am Wednesday 20 November 2024 ***

PREPARE TO LEAVE – Jandowae – flood update as at 6.20am Tuesday 19 November 2024

Warning level: WATCH AND ACT

Warning area: People in low-lying areas of Jandowae should prepare to leave.

Water in the Jandowae water supply dam is approaching the flood level of 0.5m. Further water level rises are expected.

More rain is predicted and flooding to low-lying areas is possible. Residents might need to leave if flooding starts.

What you should do:

• Stay up to date because conditions could change quickly.
• Enact your flood emergency plan. Decide where you will go if flooding starts.
• Inform neighbours, friends and family in the area.
• If you are in a low-lying area, secure and lift possessions.
• Listen to your local radio station (747AM).
• Listen to directions from Emergency Services.
• Stay out of rivers, creeks and flood water.

If your life is in danger, call 000.
For flood assistance, call SES on 132 500.
View the latest warnings here: bom.gov.au/qld/warnings
For the latest weather information, keep across Council's Disaster Dashboard: http://disaster.wdrc.qld.gov.au/

16/11/2024

Storm season has arrived in the Western Downs for 2024.

You can reduce your chances of your home being impacted by heavy rain, wind, flooding and damage.

By clearing your home and yard of potential projectiles, securing loose objects, clearing your gutters, trimming trees and keeping an eye on local weather predictions you can reduce your potential for damage.

Check in and follow us for further advice for severe weather.

Stay safe and enjoy your weekend - SES Western Downs volunteers.

16/11/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AxALyHE7J/

10/10/2024

SES partners - Suncorp and Get Ready Queensland recommend that households and businesses start planning and preparing for this storm and fire season.

A little planning now can prevent a lot of heartache in a severe weather event.

10/10/2024

10/10/2024

Jandowae copped a little bit of severe storm activity yesterday....

Our Western Downs SES volunteers banded together this afternoon to remove a large fallen bottle tree from a residential driveway to allow the residence vehicular acess to their property.

The Western Downs experience multiple severe storms every year, and this year will not be any different. Get Ready Queensland offers advice on preparation and planning for members of our community - take the time to learn and prepare your family and home for this coming storm season.

Thanks to our volunteers for their gift of time and effort for our community.

31/08/2024

Come on down to Dalby Bunnings for last minute fathers day gifts and to support your local Western Downs SES.

31/08/2024

SES Week 2024 - Bunnings Dalby

31/08/2024

SES Western Downs are at the traditional Saturday morning Bunnings BBQ here at Dalby.
Come on down and support your volunteers, have a chat with our crew.

We are celebrating SES Week 2024 and the contributions of our members statewide.

Are you interested in volunteering with us - we are looking for new members to bolster our numbers here in Dalby, as well as for our other Western Downs SES groups at Miles, Tara, Chinchilla and Jandowae.

We look forward to seeing you today.