Craigieburn SES member Ray Desem inspired to help
As his 20th birthday neared, Ray Desem was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t out with mates, nor at home — he was pulling a family from a horrific car wreckage.
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As the clock struck midnight on the eve of his 20th birthday, Greenvale man Ray Desem was nowhere to be seen.
He wasn’t at the pub with his friends, nor was he at home with his family.
Instead, the young man was pulling a mother and her daughter from a horrific car wreckage in Craigieburn.
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“There was a lot of blood everywhere, and a lot of people running around and screaming,” he said.
“I was using the (hydraulic tool) cutters to get them out.”
At age 21, Mr Desem has already racked up three years of experience as a volunteer at the Craigieburn SES.
Inspired by one of his university friends, whose emergency pager went off during class, the young man attended an information night and was instantly hooked.
“As soon as I joined, I was keen to get into training,” he said. “What got me was the fact that the SES do so much but we don’t get much recognition for it.
“We’re the main road rescue provider in Victoria.”
Mr Desem said attending some emergency situations could be “very confronting”.
“I just try to focus on the task at hand because if I freeze and get scared, then I’m not helping anyone,” he said. “We’re like a cohesive family, we work together well and we get the job done.”
The Greenvale student encouraged other like-minded people to join the SES.
“I’ve gained so many life skills through the SES,” he said.
“The reason you join is because you want to do something helpful. People are incredibly grateful and you’ve had a good day knowing you’ve helped someone out.”
Check out the Craigieburn SES on craigieburnses.com
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