Ever wanted to free people trapped in cars; steer a boat through a flood on a rescue mission; or learn how to survive a close encounter with a taipan?
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The friendly orange-clad volunteers from the NSW SES' Armidale unit will hold a community open day at the Farmers' Market in Civic Park on Sunday morning.
The SES will show the public how they serve the community - and hope to recruit some new members.
"Come down, and say hi," SES volunteer Jock Campbell said. "We love what we do, so we hope to bring you on board!"
And, he promised, there will be cake.
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The Armidale SES unit deals with flood, storm, and tsunami damage, unit commander Amanda Lang said, as well as rescue in the local area.
Members are on standby 24/7, 365 days a year. This year alone, they have been involved in flood and storm safety, road rescue, land searches, vertical rescue for lost bushwalkers, and supporting fire brigades at Tingha.
Visitors to Sunday's event will be able to see the unit's storm truck and flood rescue boat; or handle the 'jaws of life'.
They can learn how to treat a snakebite; use an automated external defibrillator to treat heart attacks; or remove a ring from a finger without cutting either off.
"We're passing on skills that we learn and use in the SES, and that we want to the public to be able to use," Amanda said.
The SES will also push their #3 Things campaign, raising awareness for storm and flood preparedness. If you had to evacuate your house, what three things would you take with you?
And the SES are always looking for more members - particularly with storm season beginning in October.
All 40 members of the unit are professionally trained volunteers. Some only started a few weeks ago; others joined more than 15 years back.
"I just love helping out," Jock said. "I've always wanted to join an emergency service, and I thought: why not start with the people in orange? I haven't looked back.
"I love the sense of satisfaction, the thank yous, making a difference in the community... Plus I also get to play with red and blue lights and sirens!"
"It's a fantastic learning and life experience," Amanda agreed. "I've done some amazing things through SES, for professional and personal development, but also using the skills and knowledge to help others.
"When I joined, I never dreamed I would become a General Land Rescue accredited operator, and use the jaws of life to cut people out of cars."
She and her husband joined in 2008 just after one of the big hail storms. Watching SES members day after day tarping rooves in Armidale really impressed them, she said.
"Those people seemed pretty amazing, getting up there and doing that. Then we found out they're volunteers, and not getting paid for it!"
New members would get to know the service and learn basic skills through an introductory course. From there, they would move onto first aid, using the radios, storm and water damage, or they can track into rescue.
If they don't want to be out on rooves in the middle of a storm, they can support the unit back at the operations centre, helping with logistics, catering, or administration.
Next month, Amanda will bring Large Animal Rescue capability into the area, so the SES can extricate horses and cattle from mud or dams. She's passionate about this, so excited to start the first training course.
The SES community open day is at the Armidale Farmers' Market, Civic Park, Sunday, from 7am to 12.30pm.
If you need assistance in storms or floods, ring 132500.