Rescue ready! Coonamble SES shed now open
Coonamble Times
16 August 2024, 7:41 AM
Volunteers, officials and supporters gathered for the much anticipated openingFirst responders and the Coonamble community were thrilled to witness the long-awaited opening of the new State Emergency Services (SES) Building on Sunday 11 August.
“We haven’t had a proper building to work out of. It was hard because we had nowhere to go,” Unit Commander Shiralee Robinson said.
The official opening took place on a warm, sunny afternoon with high ranking members of the SES, Coonamble Shire Council, and Labour Party member Stephen Lawrence, with members of the community were also present.
“It’s great to be here on such a beautiful day,” Stephen Lawrence said.
“I know there’s a real feeling of pride with the official opening of this new building.
“It’s a testament to the skill and commitment of the members here.”
David Jones and Tony Boney Jr gave an Acknowledgment to Country and held a smoking ceremony to commemorate the opening of the building, along with several more members of the Aboriginal community.
Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnston emphasised the importance of the new building.
PHOTO: Mayor Tim Horan, Coonamble SES Commander Shiralee Robinson, Hon, Stephen Lawrence, Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnston.
“It’s a fantastic facility for our unit here in Coonamble,” Deputy Commissioner Johnston said.
“They’re a busy unit. It’s important we have the right facility for our members so they can house the assets but also respond to their community needs.”
Chief Superintendent Brigid Rice thanked the Coonamble Unit for their outstanding work.
“I really have to call out the Coonamble Unit for being the absolute hub building the units around it,” Superintendent Rice said.
PHOTO: Coonamble SES Commander Shiralee Robinson receives National Emergency Medal from Deputy Commissioner Johnston.
Coonamble Shire Mayor Tim Horan attended in his mayoral chains to show the significance of the event.
“It took a bit longer than expected but we really got the job done,” Mayor Horan said.
“Our SES members are all unpaid and they do an amazing job and you’re the whole reason that we were able to build the shed. This is in recognition of those volunteers.”
Coonamble needed a new facility to ensure that they can be a self-sustaining unit in times of flooding.
The old building was inadequate to meet the needs of the SES.
PHOTO: Members of the local Aboriginal community perform a smoking ceremony to commemorate the opening of the SES Building.
One of the vehicles had to be housed outside for ten years because there was not enough space in the old shed, former Coonamble SES Commander John ‘Tiny’ Lewis said.
Fifteen years earlier, than Minister for Emergency Services Steve Whan stood in the SES building and promised a new shed.
The proposal stalled after a change in government before negotiations and plans for the new SES building were re-opened in about 2022.
PHOTO: Deputy Commissioner Johnston presents award to John ‘Tiny’Lewis.
The Coonamble Shire Council contributed around $1 million to the new shed and the NSW government around $500,000.
After the appointed contractor went into liquidation, the council took over the contract to manage the project themselves in August 2023 to get the project over the line.
During the ceremony, several members from Coonamble and the surrounding areas received awards to commemorate their service.
SES Chaplain Jim Newton gave a blessing for the new building.
Lane Lewis and Shiralee Robinson from the Coonamble Unit received a National Emergency Medal for assisting in the Bushfires in 2019/2020.
John Lewis from the SES Walgett Unity and David Monk from the NSW SES Western Zone received the same award.
Mr Lewis also received a 15-year long service award.
Dominic Warnock who was not present was awarded the 30 Year Long Service Award.
Julie Anderson from the Macquarie Capability Unit was recognised for life preserving incident management support provided during the Central West flood event on 13 and 14 November, 2022.
The ceremony concluded with an official walkthrough of the new building featuring new dressing rooms, offices, a kitchen, and a spacious garage for the rescue vehicles.
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