Deepwater will be the host town for a free Red Cross Emergency Services training workshop in early March.
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The aim of the workshop is to boost membership of a service that is much needed during times of emergency.
Residents from Glen Innes and surrounding areas are invited to join over 2,000 Red Cross volunteers across the ACT and NSW who help their communities in times of natural disasters.
Red Cross is looking to build membership in the Glen Innes Emergency Service Team of volunteers.
Numbers have slowly dwindled over the years, reducing the Glen Innes Emergency Services Team to a few dedicated volunteers.
Local volunteers Loretta Pietsch and Yvonne Gorman have a long association with Red Cross.
“I was at Moree during the floods,” Yvonne said.
“I was amazed at the resilience of people during times of hardship.”
“It’s so important for us to keep up to date with training,” Loretta said.
Red Cross Emergency Services Northern NSW spokesperson Carolyn Forbes said the local team is totally made up of dedicated volunteers from in and around the Glen Innes area.
Ms Forbes said Red Cross is calling on Glen Innes residents to come along.
“Many of our volunteers are in their 60’s and 70’s and manage extremely well,” she said.
“We invite anyone over the age of 18 to join Red Cross Emergency Services.”
Volunteers will learn about the role of the Red Cross in a disaster, and gain hands-on skills and get to meet like minded people who want to make a difference to the lives of others at a time of need.
Volunteers can be called on to meet people as they arrive at an evacuation centre, provide emotional support and a listening ear, or help with practical tasks.
“Our volunteers in the Northern Tablelands have been particularly supportive over recent years,” Ms Forbes said.
“They have been a great support for northern NSW during flood events and interstate deployments.
“The Training is being centrally located in Deepwater to hopefully attract interested persons from Glen Innes, Inverell, Tenterfield and Deepwater, where we also have volunteer emergency service teams located,” she said.
The course will be held at the Deepwater School of Arts, 72 Tenterfield Road, Deepwater from 9.30am to 3pm, with Glen Innes member and trainer Margaret Kiehne.
Interested people need to register by Friday, February 24.
Contact Carolyn Forbes at Red Cross on 02 66223361 or email: nswemergency@recross.org.au