Pacific island volunteers carving new pathways at VICSES Cobram Unit

A trio of Solomon Islanders currently working in Victoria’s north are showcasing their commitment to their new community, donning the orange uniform of the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) to provide vital assistance during local emergencies.

Employed at a Cobram meatworks facility as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, VICSES Cobram Unit volunteers Peter, Philemon and Nathaniel have been paving the way for their compatriots since joining VICSES earlier this year, becoming the first Solomon Islanders to do so.

Driven by a desire to help their community as they would back home, Peter’s decision to reach out to the local unit after researching the organisation online subsequently sparked a chain reaction, resulting in the trio of friends quickly being welcomed into a new family of like-minded volunteers.

Showing a propensity to learn new skills and a willingness to apply themselves to training and out of hours response, the trio has become well-respected within both the Cobram unit and the neighbouring NSWSES Tocumwal Unit as they’ve developed their core capabilities, with a particular focus on storm response.

Serving as dual members due to their proximity to the Victorian-New South Wales border, the trio have each completed their Crew Member Supervised and Crew Member Level One qualifications, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to support communities on either side of the Murray River during their times of need.

They’ve also been regular fixtures at major local events such as the Cobram Show and the Deniliquin Ute Muster, engaging directly with their communities and highlighting the value of emergency preparedness in a region prone to flood and storm events.

The addition of Peter, Philemon and Nathaniel has highlighted the inclusive nature of SES in Cobram and further afield, exemplifying the value short-term and long-term visa holders can add to their community by volunteering with organisations such as VICSES.

Word of the trio’s committed service to the Cobram community has also made its way overseas, with their involvement with VICSES the subject of local Solomon Island newspaper and radio coverage earlier this year and sparking interest from family and friends back home around how they could follow suit if ever in Victoria.

Now entering their last 12 months of a working visa, all three men have developed a range of vital emergency response skills to take back to their homes in Auki (Peter and Philemon) and Tulangi (Nathaniel) to assist the community informally, with their home islands historically prone to storm and cyclonic conditions.

For now, they’re more than happy to give back to their adopted home anyway they can, blazing a trail for others to follow in the process.

Quotes attributable to Luke Herezo, VICSES Cobram Unit Controller

“It’s been fantastic to welcome Peter, Philemon and Nathaniel to VICSES and to see them grow and develop as volunteers and as community members over the last nine months.

“Having them onboard has paved the way for other members of Cobram’s migrant population to follow suit and showcased just how rewarding volunteering in the local community can be.”