Sunday, 8th June 2008 marks the first anniversary of the Newcastle/ Hunter Valley region floods. For the ACT State Emergency Service, which sent 5 task forces (aka rotations) between 9th and 23rd June to the Hunter region to assist NSW SES with tasks ranging from emergency evacuation of residents, to fortifying the Cessnock Railway Yard, to repairing damaged roofs in Newcastle as well as other miscellaneous tasks, this is a significant milestone and a proud achievement.

Volunteers from Rivers Unit participated in all five of the task forces (see our Roll Call section to find the names of the Rivers members who went http://www.nationalpc.com.au/ses/Public/aboutus/RollCall.htm).  Like many the others who were involved in the emergency response, our members worked hard for very long hours in adverse weather conditions, and early on they much of the time with the threat of flood still looming.  And they did all that after travelling for 5 hours to get there!

They represented our Unit and the ACT SES well and the ACT community should also be proud to have such selfless, caring, professional and dedicated volunteers flying the ACT flag in other parts of Australia!