NSW SES Willoughby-Lane Cove Unit

26/02/2026

The NSW SES Willoughby-Lane Cove Unit had an amazing time celebrating Lunar New Year in Chatswood this weekend! 🧧🐎
What a great way to welcome the Year of the Horse with our local community.
Our members loved chatting with everyone, joining in the parade and sharing about the work we do.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello, your support means a lot to our volunteers!
Thank you to Willoughby City Council for having us again 🎉

29/01/2026

We are incredibly proud to share that David has been awarded the Cultural and Community Building Award as part of Willoughby’s citizenship ceremonies!

This well-deserved recognition highlights his extensive volunteer work with the SES, Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), JP services in our local libraries, and his contributions as a volunteer director at Northbridge Golf Club.

As a long-term volunteer with our local SES unit, David brings invaluable expertise in chainsaw operations and other field activities, while also leading our Peer Support Services with care and dedication.

Congratulations, David! Your cheerful demeanour, reliability and willingness to support residents at a moment’s notice are deeply appreciated. It’s wonderful to see this recognised by our local government 👏

04/12/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Ollie was promoted to an Equipment Coordinator on Monday!

If you swing by our unit, you will often see Ollie coming in early to help our Logistics team make sure our unit and volunteers are fully equipped and prepared for anything that comes our way.

Ollie has been volunteering with the Willoughby-Lane Cove State Emergency Service for just over a year. In that time, he has learnt a lot! From being lowered down a rock face to mastering the art of tying a clove hitch. His most memorable experiences are the late nights attending requests for assistance and chatting in the vehicles with his fellow volunteers.

When asked about his advice for anyone thinking of joining the SES, Ollie said, "Do it! It’s fun, and you get to meet cool, new people."

As an Equipment Coordinator, Ollie will be responsible for managing and coordinating the servicing of vehicles and equipment, ensuring we have everything we need for emergency response operations, training, and other unit activities.

Looking forward to greater things ahead!

20/11/2025

Last week, our Willoughby-Lane Cove SES volunteers undertook an important training session for Land Search. We started the evening at the unit, preparing our equipment, and then headed to Naremburn Park as the sun was setting.

Our volunteers split into three teams: one Incident Management Team and two Field Teams positioned around the park. After receiving a simulated briefing from our ‘Incident Controller’, the teams got to work.

You’ll spot in the photos that some of our members stepped into additional roles. Ian (in the green jacket) brought the scenario to life by acting as the media, helping simulate what it’s like to manage enquiries and information flow during a real operation. Our Radio Controller and Radio Logger worked closely together to capture and document information.

These nights help ensure our unit stays prepared, coordinated, and ready to assist our community whenever we are needed. Great work to everyone who participated! 💙🧡

18/11/2025

🌟 Meet Deputy Team Leader Mitch 🌟
On the day of the announcement, Mitch led a few volunteers for his first job under supervision, showcasing his adaptability and steady leadership. His calm presence makes him a trusted mentor and an invaluable part of the team. He is always happy to help and guide his fellow volunteers. Thank you Mitch!

🟠 How long have you been volunteering with the SES?
“I’ve been volunteering for 4 years — 2 years with Penrith and 2 years with Willoughby-Lane Cove.”

🟠 What inspired you to join, and what’s been the most rewarding part?
“The 2021 Eastern Australian floods made me realise I wanted to help my community. The most rewarding part is being able to assist people and know I’ve made a difference for them.”

🟠 What skills have you developed as a volunteer?
“I’ve learned practical skills as a Storm Water Damage Operator, how to work effectively in teams, and leadership skills that are transferable to everyday life.”

🟠 Can you share a memorable experience from volunteering?
“Monday night, when I officially became Deputy Team Leader and led my first job under supervision that same night!”

🟠 What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the SES?
“If you’re thinking about joining, just do it and get involved as much as you can. It’s such a rewarding experience, and you’ll learn so much you wouldn’t normally.”

18/11/2025

Q&A With Newly Promoted Deputy Team Leader Val 🌟
We are excited to celebrate Val, who has stepped into the role of Deputy Team Leader. Val brings compassion, calm leadership, and a genuine drive to help others. These are qualities that make him an incredible asset to the team. He is a great teacher, leading with humility and humour, always making those around him feel supported and inspired.

🟠 How long have you been volunteering with the SES?
“I joined the unit in January 2024, when I received a call from SES State HQ confirming that my application was successful.”

🟠 What inspired you to join the SES, and what has been the most rewarding part?
“I can’t stand aside when others need help. Past experiences left me frustrated when I couldn’t assist, especially during the 2019–2020 bushfires — I felt sick knowing I couldn’t do anything. Joining the SES was my way to finally turn that feeling into action.”

🟠 What skills have you developed as a volunteer?
“Besides learning to use various power tools and tying a couple of very useful knots, the skill I value most is learning to pause before leaping into action. Taking a moment to assess what could go wrong helps me choose the safest and best approach.”

🟠 Can you share a memorable volunteering experience?
“During the severe storm event in January, I was leaving the unit after an exhausting eight-hour shift. An elderly woman stopped me, looked at my uniform, and said, ‘Please, look after yourself.’ It was such a simple, heartfelt gesture — exactly what my grandma would have said — and it really stayed with me.”

🟠 What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the SES?
“Helping someone in need is the best feeling in the world, and the SES gives you so many opportunities to experience that. Be patient with yourself — learning takes time, and confidence grows with practice. And if you’re curious about the work we do, read Frog: The Secret Diary of a Paramedic by Sally Goold. If you get drawn in, that’s a good sign the SES might be a great fit for you.”

18/11/2025

🎉 Meet Shaun, Our Newly Promoted Team Leader! 🎉
We’re excited to introduce Shaun as our newest Team Leader. Anyone who has volunteered with him knows how much he cares about his team and his community. His steady approach, willingness to help, and genuine dedication make him a natural fit for this role.

To help you get to know him a little better, here’s a quick Q&A:

🟠 How long have you been volunteering with the SES?
“I have been a member of the SES for 8 years, working out of two units, my first being the Mt Druitt unit.”

🟠 What inspired you to join the SES and what has been the most rewarding part?
“I first joined the SES after a major storm cell went through western Sydney with hail and wind, leaving a mess. I saw the teams out in the field for several days and thought they do fantastic work.”

🟠 What skills have you gained as a volunteer?
“The SES training has taught me everything I need to work in the field — responding to storm jobs, working at heights safely, operating a chainsaw, and now developing skills in the flood rescue area.”

🟠 Can you share a memorable experience from volunteering?
“My most memorable incident was helping an elderly resident who had a leak directly over her bed. Working with the team, we not only stopped the leak, but also ensured she had a safe and dry place to sleep that night.”

🟠 What advice would you give someone thinking about joining the SES?
“Sign up. We can teach you any skill you might need to help your community and potentially make a difference in someone’s life.”

Please join us in congratulating Shaun on his well-deserved promotion and thanking him for his ongoing commitment to the community. 👏🧡

10/11/2025

05/11/2025

Last month, on Thursday 2 October, our volunteers at Willoughby- Lane Cove State Emergency Service had a fantastic time meeting the amazing people from our community!

Your smiles, questions, and enthusiasm for learning how to stay safe during storms truly made our day ☔😄

A huge thank you to Westfield Chatswood for hosting us, and to all the other emergency services who joined in. Safety is a team effort!🚒🚓🚑💨

From storm safety tips to friendly chats, it was incredible to see everyone come together to learn, laugh, and connect. Our volunteers loved every minute, and we hope you did too! ❤️

We also want to pass on a big thank you to Councillor Anna Greco and Councillor Michelle Chuang - Willoughby City Council for joining us and supporting our community initiatives.

04/11/2025

World Tsunami Awareness Day is a reminder of the importance of understanding your risk and being prepared. The NSW SES is the primary combat agency for floods, storms, and tsunamis and we want to ensure that everyone living in or visiting coastal areas understands the simple steps they can take to stay safe.

• Know your evacuation area: Review the tsunami evacuation maps on the NSW SES website and make sure you know how to reach higher ground - at least 10 meters above sea level and 1 kilometre inland from the coast. Visit the map: www.ses.nsw.gov.au/.../tsunami-evacuation-map
• Stay informed: Download the Hazards Near Me app to receive warnings and alerts for tsunamis, floods, and other severe weather events in your area.
• Prepare a plan and an emergency kit: Include essential items like water, food, first aid supplies, and important documents. Make sure your kit is easy to access and portable in case you need to evacuate quickly. In a tsunami, the best way to evacuate may be by walking to higher ground.
• Share your plan: Make sure your family, friends, and neighbours know your evacuation routes and emergency plans and review these regularly.

For information on how to protect yourself and your community, visit the NSW SES Tsunami Information page: www.ses.nsw.gov.au/tsunami. Let’s stay safe by being informed and prepared.