By Jessica Micallef
From bushfires to car crashes, Ross Evans has seen it all.
The year 2020 has thrown all sorts of challenges and obstacles to Victorians and the Gisborne SES volunteer has seen the devastation firsthand.
At the beginning of the year, Ross was deployed four times to parts of Victoria that were ravaged by bushfires.
“It was very hot and smoky,“ he said.
“We were in Talangatta to set up a base camp for all the firefighters, so we were setting up tents in 40-something degree heat which was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
“One time, we were evacuating a town called Wandiligong, just outside of Bright. We went door-to-door asking if people were going to evacuate.
“For a lot of people it was fairly confronting because if people say ’no’ then I needed to take their names and ask how many people were in the household so we can identify them if something went pear-shaped.“
Ross says he enjoyed that no two days were the same in the life of a SES volunteer. But admits that the role can take a toll on his family.
“We go from road crashes, to storm damages, floods – there is never an average day,“ he said.
“There is nothing standard about what we do but it can take a toll.
“My family has been really good because they understand what I do but … it’s nice to get home and have the kids give me a big hug.
“It’s hard being away for 14 or 15 days. But there’s a broad sense of community associated with the SES.
“It’s not just about going out and helping others, it’s about being able to help each other. It’s a very family-orientated service.“
