News
19 October, 2021
SES award win for Caboolture volunteer
COURTNEY Black of the Caboolture State Emergency Service (SES) Group was among the award winners at the recent SES awards ceremony at the Kedron-based Emergency Services Complex Auditorium.
After being chosen as Group Member for Caboolture at last year’s awards, Courtney received a general award this year for “special contribution to the Caboolture SES Group through selfless dedication and commitment to the group and the community it serves”.
The Caboolture resident said she was very passionate about working with the SES, and anticipated continuing for many more years.
“It feels good to be recognised as a volunteer,” Courtney said.
“I was pretty surprised to win the award; I wasn’t really expecting it.”
Having volunteered with the Caboolture SES for the past two-and-a-half years, Courtney’s roles have included dealing with the flood cycle, the storm and water damage operations, and land searches to look for people reported missing.
Earlier this year, Courtney was on deployments in New South Wales and Western Australia.
One deployment was a clean-up following floods in NSW areas including Taree, Macksville and Port Macquarie. The other deployment was Cyclone Seroja in the Western Australian area near Geraldton to Kalbarri.
Having also become a community events coordinator with the SES, Courtney has provided educational material at events like the Caboolture markets, on topics such as preparing for storm season.
Courtney also began a job as an administration officer for the SES Brisbane region, covering the Redlands, Brisbane and Moreton Bay units.
As for what she found appealing about working for the SES, Courtney said: “Just being able to get out there and help the community.”
Educating other people and meeting new people were other drawcards which Courtney identified.
Courtney credited the SES team at Caboolture, saying these people were very supportive.
