The barbecue (date still to be set) will be funded by the council after a request from Deputy Mayor Bilal El-Hayek, who, disappointed with the lack of State Government support for the SES, also called for the Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience, Steph Cooke, to initiate a recruitment campaign for more personnel and ensure it is properly funded and resourced.
Cr El-Hayek said that hosting a barbecue for these “local State Emergency Services heroes is the very least we can do … and it will add a lot more than the NSW Government is doing”.
“Whether it is floods, fires, storms or road emergencies, our SES crews are there to help in some way or another … and let’s face it, often undermanned and under-resourced,” he said.
“Since the beginning of the year, we have experienced three separate weather events that have cause major flooding, road closures, evacuations and homes damaged … And without fail, among the first responders were our local State Emergency Services crews – mostly volunteers who put their lives on the line to save others.
“We need to beef up our emergency services, so we can be adequately prepared for whatever mother nature throws at us.”
Thank SES at barbecue and urge funds beef up
CANTERBURY Bankstown SES units will be treated to a barbecue as a ‘thank you’ for their “dedication and outstanding efforts” during the storms that ravaged the area earlier this year.