Tasmania’s State Emergency Service (SES) turns 50 today, marking half a century of volunteers pulling on the now-orange overalls to help Tasmanians through floods, storms and disasters.
The official anniversary marks the date the Emergency Services Act came into effect in 1976.
The milestone was first acknowledged on May 30 at the State Fire and Emergency Services Conference in Hobart.
The SES grew out of the Civil Defence and Emergency Services, which had operated through the 1960s and early 1970s.
In the early civil defence days, uniforms were navy blue and often second-hand from the Air Force.
Today the SES is known for its bright orange overalls, chosen for safety and visibility during rescues.
Over five decades, its volunteers have responded to floods, storms, landslips, road crashes, land searches and disaster recovery operations.
The 1975 Tasman Bridge disaster, when the Lake Illawarra struck the bridge and 12 lives were lost, came just before the service was formally established.
In 1986, volunteers responded to the Emu River rail disaster at Wivenhoe, where a cement train derailed after colliding with a truck, killing three people.
More recently, SES crews played a major role in the 2013 Dunalley bushfires and the 2016 statewide floods, which caused more than $180 million in damage and three deaths.
Volunteers also conducted around 85,800 quarantine compliance checks during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 2020 and January 2022.
Acting executive director Luke Flanagan said the service had become an essential part of Tasmania’s emergency management network.
“Often working in hazardous and unpredictable conditions, our SES members have demonstrated professionalism, adaptability and courage,” Flanagan said.
“Their actions have not only saved lives but have also helped communities endure and recover from some of the most challenging events in Tasmania’s history.”
Brighton volunteer Peter Geard has seen it all, joining the Hobart Regional Headquarters Unit when it formed in 1976.
The 75-year-old said the work was deeply rewarding.
“It’s very rewarding being in the SES. Especially the satisfaction when you go to an emergency or a disaster and you can see that you’ve made some real difference to the community and helped someone at a time when they really needed it most,” Geard said.
Launceston’s Sue Kelder, who manages the northern incident management unit, has volunteered for more than 10 years.
“Being part of the SES means being there for people during some of the worst moments of their lives – during storms, floods and searches,” Kelder said.
“Knowing that what we do genuinely helps people when they need it most is incredibly powerful.”
Read the special SES 50th anniversary booklet here.
