NTES volunteers step up when disaster strikes

THESE volunteers are there to help you when disaster strikes

Volunteer Brett Martin enjoys the satisfaction of helping his community. Picture: Che Chorley

• The fearless, unsung heroes who deserve our thanks

NT Emergency Service is the volunteer group there to help you when disaster strikes.

The volunteers do everything from supporting police and fireys at a major event, be it a crash or search and rescue operation, to helping out in a natural disaster.

The service is primarily made up of volunteers – people who have an urge to help out their community such as Brett Martin.

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He’s volunteered in the role in Katherine and Wadeye.

Mr Martin has been a member of the NTES for four years and enjoys being able to learn new skills as well as help his local community.

“But being exhausted and knowing that you tried is a huge thing,” Mr Martin said.

“Just being there, a friendly face, even if it’s covered in dirt and sawdust when you’re out to storms and stuff too.

Mr Martin has been a member of the NTES for four years. Picture: Che Chorley

“The training is there too, it’s a big part of it and so you get trained in a multitude of skills.”

The service has about 280 members across the NT, and in remote areas they can often be the first on scene to a rescue or crash.

Training is given to members to equip them with the skills needed to help out in an emergency – usually this is done during weekly meetings.

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NTES Central and Northern Command operations officer Dave Travers said they were always looking for people to step up to the challenge.

“Yeah, we get all sorts of walks and you know, and we’ve got a couple of members here that are only just finishing high school and they were already putting their hands up,” he said.

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