Mother-Daughter Duo Volunteers at NSW SES Hawkesbury

NSW SES

No matter the time of day or night, Brooke helps Megan gear up before she radios in and rushes out to assist the community.

It's a routine the pair have shared since Brooke was about eight years old.

Now 19 years old, Brooke has officially joined the NSW SES Hawkesbury Unit and is completing initial training in hopes to one day become part of the rescue team herself.

"I have only been a member for two years now, but I've been around the SES since I was a kid," Brooke said.

"Watching mum go to rescues and talking over the radio was what motivated me.

"When she gets home from the job, we'd be sitting around the dinner table and she'd casually say, 'I rescued a cow out of a dam today'."

Megan Thomson has been a member of the Hawkesbury Unit for 15 years, joining because of her love of horses and interest in large animal rescue.

"I've done all sorts of rescues from domestic jobs like cutting rings off fingers to road crash rescues," Megan said.

"I'll never forget my very first call when I was accredited to be on the rescue team, we got a little grey kitten out who was stuck in the wall of a funeral home.

"The vet later called me and asked if I wanted to take him home. Now I have a big grey cat called Jack Jack."

While Brooke progresses through her training, the mother-daughter pair are already volunteering side by side at community events, proudly representing the NSW SES together.

Most recently, they volunteered at the Hawkesbury Show, teaching families about storm safety and emergency preparedness.

"We were showing kids the warning symbols and talking to people about what SES volunteers do," Brooke said.

For Megan, seeing her daughter choose the same volunteer path has been one of her proudest moments.

"I'm tickled pink that Brooke has decided to join," Megan said.

"The SES really is like a family. Everyone is there because they care about helping people - we just bleed orange."

As part of National Volunteer Week, the NSW SES is encouraging communities across the state to celebrate volunteers by taking part in Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day) on Wednesday 20 May.

WOW Day recognises the thousands of NSW SES volunteers who give up their time to support communities during storms, floods, rescues and other emergencies.

For Megan and Brooke, wearing orange is more than just a uniform.

"It's about community, family and being there when people need help most," Megan said.

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