Media release

WOW – Thanks NTES!

Emergency Service

Tomorrow is our opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the thousands of people across Australia who give up their time to help others by volunteering with the local State Emergency Service.

Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day) has become an annual day of thanks for this group of outstanding volunteers.

CEO of Fire and Emergency Services Jamie Chalker APM said, “In the Territory, around 300 people volunteer with the NT Emergency Service (NTES) and the remote Fire and Emergency Rescue Groups. We’re encouraging everyone to wear orange tomorrow and flood social media with the hashtags #thankyouSES and #WOWDay.

“In the last 12 months, we have seen our volunteers drop everything to go and help with incidents such as the flood emergencies in Jilkminggan, Daly River and in Central Australia. They rescued injured hikers at Mount Gillen and people who had fallen from cliffs at Mandorah and in Litchfield National Park; travellers who become stranded in floodways; and they assisted with multiple search and rescues across the Territory, including that of a little girl who wandered off from her family in the Central Desert.”

NTES volunteers will help communities clean up after severe weather events, and educate the community on flood, cyclone and emergency preparedness. You’ll often see their friendly faces at public events ready to chat to you about how to be prepared for our natural hazards, and they help with so much more behind the scenes throughout the year.

Around Darwin you might see some bright orange ‘post boxes’ in public places. These are an opportunity for the public to drop a note to the vollies to thank them for their work. Primary schools have been invited to participate in a colouring competition to win a school visit by NTES, complete with flood boats, badge making activities and national SES mascot Paddy the Platypus.

You may also notice landmarks lit up in orange that night. All round Australia, ‘Big Things’ and other iconic landmarks will glow orange as a gesture of thanks. Keep an eye out and share if you spot one!

Alice Springs NTES unit will host the annual and highly competitive tri-services tug o’war in Alice Springs Town Council Lawns 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, so come along and cheer on your side.

And if saying ‘thank you’ isn’t enough, why not consider becoming a volunteer yourself? Visit https://pfes.nt.gov.au/join-us/become-emergency-service-volunteer to see how you can contribute.