- Wear a splash of orange tomorrow as a show of appreciation to State Emergency Service volunteers
- SES volunteers responded to 2,464 incidents across WA in the past year with 90 deployed to Queensland to help communities devastated by floods and cyclone Alfred
- Nearly 50 landmarks across the State to be lit up in orange
Western Australians are being encouraged to wear a splash of orange tomorrow to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the 1,874 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers from Kununurra to Esperance.
Nationally celebrated Wear Orange Wednesday - known as WOW Day - is a nod to the iconic SES uniform and the selfless volunteers who don it during emergencies.
These highly skilled and dedicated volunteers are a lifeline for the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, turning out in force during the State's most destructive and dangerous natural disasters.
The SES primarily responds to natural disasters including floods, storms and cyclones but is equipped to respond to a range of emergencies including working alongside firefighters at road crash rescues and bushfires. Volunteers also play a vital role in helping communities prepare for disasters through education and outreach.
These highly trained individuals also assist WA Police during searches in deep bushland and undertake complex rescues from cliff faces and difficult terrain.
As a show of gratitude, Optus Stadium, Matagarup Bridge, Parliament House, Kings Park and other landmarks across Perth will glow orange tomorrow night.
Regional centres including Bunbury, Kalgoorlie and Kununurra will also light up to recognise local SES units.
The SES was established in 1959 when just a handful of units existed across the metropolitan area. There are now 64 units equipped with more than 430 response vehicles covering all corners of the State.
Over the years, the SES has responded to many major emergencies including the Meckering Earthquake in 1968, which all but flattened the small Wheatbelt town, the Perth hailstorms in 2010, the tireless search for flight MH370 and record-breaking Kimberley floods in 2023.
Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia:
"In the past year, SES volunteers have devoted almost 24,000 hours responding to more than 2,000 incidents throughout WA, including several cyclones in the North West that forced communities to bunker down, the tornado and microburst storms in Bunbury and the Perth Hills that tore roofs off homes and time-sensitive missing person searches to bring loved ones home.
"These selfless volunteers come from all walks of life, often taking time away from their families, work and study to serve the community. Distance is never a barrier, with 90 volunteers deployed to Queensland earlier this year to help their fellow Australians recover from devastating floods and the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred.
"The people of Western Australia are incredibly fortunate to have these men and women who put their personal lives on hold to help those in need and respond to calls for help when most of us are safe at home.
"I encourage all community members to don their brightest orange tomorrow to say thank you to these extraordinary volunteers for keeping the State safe for more than 60 years."
