Gordonvale SES

07/09/2026

SES BUILDS ITS TEAM
Gordonvale State Emergency Service has welcomed two new recruits and a new Deputy Group Leader, strengthening the local team of volunteers who support the community during emergencies and severe weather events.
New recruits Yvette Haselden and David Picker recently completed their induction training, which included both face-to-face and online components. Training and education continue throughout an SES volunteer’s service, helping members develop the practical skills and knowledge needed to assist their community.
Yvette has lived in Gordonvale for around 20 years and was attracted to joining the SES by the opportunity to make a useful contribution to the community. Becoming a volunteer is also giving her the chance to learn new skills, get out and about and meet more people.
David has lived in Gordonvale since the end of 2018 and became interested in joining the SES after seeing the important work volunteers carried out during Cyclone Jasper. Their response sparked his interest in becoming part of the organisation and contributing to his own community. Joining the SES has also given David the opportunity to meet people and learn a range of interesting new skills.
Experienced SES volunteer Al Carrette has taken on the role of Deputy Group Leader. Al has been involved with the SES on and off for around 16 years and continues to enjoy the satisfaction that comes from helping the community when assistance is needed.
The Gordonvale SES welcomes people interested in learning new skills, meeting others and giving something back to their local community. No previous emergency services experience is necessary, with training and equipment provided to volunteers.
Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering can visit the Queensland SES website or drop into the Gordonvale SES headquarters at 2 Simmonds Street at 6.30pm on Wednesday nights to meet the team and learn more about getting involved.
Photo caption: Al Carrette, David Picker, Yvette Haselden, David Hall (Local Controller) and David Thomas (Group Leader)

11/05/2026

A great post from Pyramid Views putting a spotlight our newest members

FROM TRAINING TO ACTION: NEW SES RECRUITS LEAD THE WAY
Gordonvale’s newest State Emergency Service (SES) recruits are already stepping up to serve their community, with Anthony Harriden, Jess Adams, Taylah Pierce, Tyler Zilkarnain and Courtney Priarollo recently completing their initial training.
The group undertook a comprehensive recruit course delivered by the Far Northern Region SES, gaining hands-on skills that prepare volunteers for real-life emergencies. Training covered everything from safety fundamentals and communication systems to rescue operations, including casualty handling and stretcher use.
A strong focus was also placed on storm damage response—one of the SES’s most common callouts in Far North Queensland. Recruits learned practical skills such as tarping damaged roofs, sandbagging, and safely using ladders. They were also introduced to the technology and teamwork that underpin SES operations, along with the importance of community engagement.
The Far Northern Region SES runs recruit courses regularly throughout the year in Cairns, supported by a dedicated team of 30 volunteer trainers and six staff. All training is nationally accredited and provided at no cost, ensuring volunteers are well-equipped and confident when responding to incidents.
For those considering joining, the SES offers more than just training. Members are provided with all necessary personal protective clothing and equipment from the outset, along with ongoing opportunities to build specialist skills in areas such as chainsaw operations, flood boat handling, road crash rescue and land search.
Locally, the Gordonvale SES unit plays a vital role in supporting the community, particularly during severe weather events. Storm damage operations and search and rescue are among the unit’s primary responsibilities, making volunteers an essential part of keeping the region safe.
The call is now out for more locals to get involved.
“Do you see yourself in orange?”
Anyone interested is encouraged to come along to the SES Headquarters at 2 Simmonds Street, Gordonvale, on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to meet the team and see what it’s all about.
Photo caption: David Hall (Group Leader) with new recruits Anthoy Harriden, Jess Adams, Taylah Pierce, Tyler Zilkarnain and Courtney Priarollo and Dave Thomas (Group Leader)

31/12/2025

After several days supporting the community in Cardwell the two members from Gordonvale SES were on their way home before stopping in Innisfail for the day to provide support. The crew carried out tarping and temporary roof repairs to help residents whose homes were leaking or had been damaged due to the recent extreme rainfall. The two members were apart of Team Delta with Colleen James from Malanda SES as the team leader

Team Delta members:
David Hall – Gordonvale SES
Alan Carrette – Gordonvale SES
Colleen James – Malanda SES (Team Leader)
Ross James – Malanda SES

29/12/2025

Sandbags Available – Gordonvale SES

Sandbags are available for community members from the Gordonvale SES depot, located at 2 Simmonds Street. Access to the sandpit is via Campbell Street.

If you are able, please consider filling a few extra sandbags for community members who may not be able to fill their own

If you need sandbags to help prepare your property, please note:
• Bring your own shovel
• Sandbags are self-serve
• Sandbags are in the undercover area at the rear of the depot