With the possibility of another disastrous east coast low battering our shores, SES volunteers Chris Duncan and Simone Burrows did not hesitate when they got the call.
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They both willingly took on the extra responsibility of completing “out-of-area” service.
Chris jumped on a plane and headed to Cootamundra where his skills as a Level 3 Swift Water Technican may have been required.
The 20-year-old recently gained the challenging qualification, and is only the third person in the unit to do so.
Whereas 19-year-old Simone Burrows went to Wollongong to help keep the media briefed.
She has taken on the role of the unit’s community engagement after undergoing extensive training.
Chris says he did not end up spending much time in Cootamundra.
“I was re-tasked to Ungarie where the Main Street was flooded to about hip-height,” he says.
“We had to evacuate some residents and conduct welfare checks.” Both would do it again in a “heartbeat”.
