Northshore SES celebrates 40 years and honours members

NORTHSHORE SES celebrated its 40th anniversary lastWednesday evening and honoured long-time member James Maclean.

The celebration took place in Mt Hawthorn.

The Northshore SES unit serves the Perth CBD and the council areas of Nedlands, Claremont, Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove, Mosman Park, Subiaco, Cambridge and Vincent.

Mr Maclean received a Queen’s Birthday Emergency Services Medal earlier this month.

He joined the SES in 1982, after emigrating from Scotland in late 1981.

“I felt I wanted to contribute something to the community. I had been a policeman in central Glasgow. In the UK they don’t have anything comparable to the SES,” he said.

Mr Maclean said one of the most intense experiences in his time with the SES was the storms of March 2010.

“I was a sector commander for the Northshore area; we had about 850 requests for help in eight days.”

Mr Maclean worked as part of the emergency services response to Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi in Queensland in 2011, and the response to Tropical Cyclone Olwyn in Western Australia last year.

He has been involved in a number of searches and in responding to fires over the years.

“What you find is that people see the SES as almost as a saviour sometimes,” he said.

“When you meet an elderly person with water coming through their roof and you’re able to help – it’s a good feeling.

“You get to help people in a tangible way and they’re always grateful – that really is a great motivation.”

Northshore SES has already been busy this winter, responding to calls for assistance following storms that damaged homes and property in May.