The NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is celebrating its young volunteers this NSW Youth Week, shining the light on their contribution to our units across the state.
NSW Youth Week is being celebrated from April 20 to 30, recognising the contribution young people aged 12-24 make to their communities.
The NSW SES consists of volunteers from all walks of life and varying ages, with members aged 16 to 106.
Among the NSW SES’s youth volunteers is Bega’s Emily De Friskborn, who joined the Service aged 17 with a passion for helping her local community and learning new skills.
Now 21, Emily has learnt valuable skills in flood rescue and storm response through her involvement with the NSW SES. As a volunteer, Emily has helped her local community recover from floods, storms and the Black Summer bushfires.
“I really like getting out there, and I try and take every opportunity I can at the SES. During the fires, I was helping in the evacuation centres and supporting people in my community on some of their darkest days,” she said.
Emily encouraged other youth to join the SES.
“I have met so many people and made so many new friends through the NSW SES,” she said.
William Kennedy from Wollondilly joined the Service aged 16 to challenge himself and learn new skills.
Now the deputy commander of the Wollondilly SES unit, William is a valuable member of the NSW SES family and is skilled in chainsaw operations, flood rescue, leadership, storm response and working at heights.
“I love that there is no such thing as a standard job when responding with the NSW SES. All incidents have their own peculiarities and challenges, and the constant challenges present me and my team with the chance to grow and improve every time we work,” he said.
William, who is 21 years old, encouraged more young people to volunteer, saying NSW Youth Week was about highlighting the contributions of young people in local communities.
“Youth are the people that are right now shaping the culture of our world and soon will be leading it, we have the power to change things, making this world a better place,” he said.
