The Ipswich City State Emergency Service Unit is always there when you need them. Our role is to assist the community in times of need and that is what we train for. To be able to do these jobs and to make the public aware that we are there, we attend different functions and on occasions let our hair down and have a good time at our social events. This page is to tell you the other side of the Ipswich City Unit, how we go about raising funds, either for ourselves or for other organisations or attend different events to raise public awareness. The page is not intended to offend anyone but to have a laugh at ourselves. Enjoy!

After nearly two years of planning the of a welfare trailer became a reality in April 2007.

The trailer was commissioned recently with a ceremony and  a BBQ Lunch for everyone was prepared from the trailer.

The trailer was made possible through the 'Gambling Community Benefit Fund' grant of  $30,000 to the project  a further $4,000 from private donation and the remainder from the Ipswich City Council and Ipswich SES Unit Support Group.

The trailer was commissioned by Rachel Nolan MP. The ceremony was attended by Cameron Thompson MP and Mayor Paul Pissasale.

The trailer is capable of supplying meals and hot/chilled water to emergency workers in the field. It has a 200lt portable water tank, 2 BBQ's, 5 burner gas stove, 50 stools, 3 gas bottles, refrigerator, a pantry with emergency food, 4 tables, 4 rubbish bins, a shade and 9kva generator with lights on board the unit which is capable of lighting an area approx 100 square metres.

All up it weighs 2.1 tonne and is always ready to go.

Since taking possession it has been utilised at least once a week.

The Unit held a 'Australia's Biggest Morning Tea' at the Ipswich depot. Although it was held on the spur of the moment, people from all over South East Queensland came along and participated.

 $398 was raised for the Cancer Council and all pledged they would return next year for a bigger and better day.

Thirty nine cadets and 18 leaders from the Ipswich Cadets took part in the Relay for Life cancer research fund raiser in April. 

Four members from the Marburg SES joined in. Up to date we have raised just over $2000 with more still to come in. We formed 5 teams and each team had a member on the relay track from 3pm Saturday until 9 am on Sunday. Each team had a baton that remained on the track at all times. Cadets were rostered on to walk for half an hour at a time. 

The walk was more poignant for the older cadets as one of our support leaders, Fred Sheather, is fighting cancer. 

Adults from the Ipswich and Goodna Groups also participated in the walk. Both groups has themes with the Ipswich Group taking out the best presented tent for the year.

Thirty Ipswich Cadets joined the Ipswich and Marburg SES members for the march through the streets of Ipswich on Anzac Day.

The cadets find this a great day to honour the men and women who have served our country.

The Unit Christmas Party was held at Thorn Street on Saturday 16 December and we also took the opportunity to celebrate the 60^th birthday of Fred Sheather. 

Fred is our Web Master and has done a wonderful job for the last few years and keeps the site updated and fresh all the time. In acknowledgement for his work and time spent, Arie (Local Controller) presented him with a plaque of Appreciation.

Arie held a slide show of activations through the year – and Fred was there in most of them. Following this, we had a “Fred’s Show” of Fred and his doings with us to celebrate his birthday. Janine then read a poem called “Fred” (see below) by Beth Suhr and Jim Cooper presented him with a photo of the Ipswich group.

Fred is also a Leader with the Ipswich Cadets and in appreciation for the time he has put into the scheme, Patricia Whitehead, the Youth Development Officer, presented Fred with a certificate of appreciation from the Scheme for his work with the Ipswich cadets

Fred, I first met you
When you walked quietly in
To Admin to see Arie
And from then it was all win win

You agreed to be our Web Master
And to do it all for nix
You’d sit at home and plan it all
And Arie’s mistakes you’d be sure to fix!

Then you thought that all of us
Seemed to be having fun
And so you joined the family
To learn just what was done

As your heart wasn’t healthy
In comms you did your bit
And you became an expert
As in the comms chair you did sit

And in times of trouble
When the others weren’t at home
You put your orange clothes right on
(And through your hair you’d run a comb)

Then you met your Gwynny
The greatest love of all your life
And you told her you loved her dearly
And wanted her to be your wife

But you explained quite simply  
You had a mistress you loved as well  
And when she called you’d have to go  
Or your soul you’d have to sell

‘Cause, Fred, you were bleeding orange  
And SES it ran in your veins  
And your heart it pumped for others  
Never looking for thanks or gains

We worked together often -  
Searches were our thing –  
And you with your comms hat on  
Really made the radio sing

Our cadets were up and running  
But they needed more support  
So you became a leader  
And your knowledge to them brought

You helped them out with HQ  
And comms you taught them well  
And every camp you’d drive them  
To the camp site were they’d dwell  

So Freddy, dear we miss you  
And wish you all the best  
And hope to have you back with us  
After you’ve had a rest

                                                                                          Beth Suhr

On Saturday 28 October the Marburg SES Group held an Open Day during the Inaugural Black Snake Creek Festival.

The Ipswich and Rosewood cadets marched with the Marburg group in the parade and then assisted with the selling of Devonshire Teas. Both groups sold raffle tickets. It was a great day even though it was one of the hottest days so far this spring.

Our two Ipswich assistant leaders did a great job helping the leaders with the cadets.

This Black Snake Creek Festival is to become an annual event and we hope the cadets will be able participate each year.

Canoe Certification Presentation

The Ipswich Unit was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for their contribution to ensuring the 2006 State School Marathon Canoeing Championships held by the Karana District Kayak and Canoe Club was a safe one.

 A special thanks to Darren and Dawn McMullin, Terence Poole and Peter Griffith for making the event a successful one.

Goodna, with assistance from the Rosewood group, held their annual training camp this year at a property in Redbank Plains.

Over the weekend we had 6 exercises. The aim was to test our training over the last year. 

The exercises were casualty handling, search, knots, lashings, general knowledge and to finish off the weekend we had a GPS march around the property with 20 waypoints. Every waypoint had a general knowledge question. 

It was good to see the two groups work together. To make the weekend more challenging we moved all the teams around and changed the team leaders so that all the members had a chance to do different roles over the weekend.

The Unit held an Innisfail reunion and debrief with a dinner provided by Administration.

Seventeen members went to Innisfail (2 went twice) over a three week period to carry out emergency repairs and to do a survey.

Members were asked to tell of their experiences, what they saw and their feelings of going to an area of destruction and devastation. All agreed that it was an eye-opener and would go again if required. They all have a different version of the experience but when it is all put together they all say the same thing, "It was a hell of a mess but all the people were friendly." A very big thank you once again to all who gave up their time to go there and assist.

The evening comprised of a photo show, a nice dinner and great companionship. Thank you to the Burchmann family for doing the cooking and looking after us.

WELL DONE EVERYONE.