St Brigid’s Primary School students had fun activities on Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day) thanks to the SES Healesville Unit.
WOW Day is the national day of recognition to say ‘thank you’ to SES volunteers, held in the middle of National Volunteer Week every year.
To celebrate the day, the SES Healesville Unit came up with an idea to educate local students about SES.
The emergency crew visited St Brigid’s Primary School to introduce SES while having fun activities.
The crew explained what SES does, the role of each member, and showed the children an example emergency kit, the SES truck and emergency tools.
Healesville SES deputy controller community engagement Michelle Zwagerman said it’s important that the local children know Healesville SES’s role in times of emergency, like storms, floods and rescues.
“It helps the children understand that there are people out there who help in times of emergencies, and feel more secure and settled,” she said.
“There’s also an ulterior motive, which is that the children come home and tell the parents about what they did, and hopefully encourage the parents to prepare an emergency plan.”
Grade 1 and 2 students enjoyed their time with the local emergency service volunteers.
They asked questions, tried on a SES helmet and gloves, and did a colouring-in about what they’d like to put in their emergency backpack.
Grade 2 student Zara said she drew food, a torch, water, a first aid kit, and her little teddy bear in her emergency backpack.
One of the students said he knew Phil, one of the SES crew members, because Phil was one of the coaches of his cricket club.
“What strikes me every time we do something like this is just that connection (with the community),” Ms Zwagerman said.
“Our members, of course, are with the community and from the community.
“When the child said Phil is his (cricket) coach, I thought that was lovely.”
