News

Editor’s note: Access images from previous playdates here -  https://spaces.hightail.com/space/3mI7epyZI8

Five years ago, the Black Summer Bushfires swept through the NSW South Coast, sending residents into turmoil. For some, the wailing sirens became a distant hum, and flashing lights faded into the background. Yet for many, the chaos ignited lasting anxiety that lingers to this day. 

One of the hardest-hit areas was the Eurobodalla Shire. Jacklyn Roque, NSW SES Batemans Bay Community Engagement Coordinator, witnessed the impact firsthand and developed the Emergency Services Playdates initiative. This program aims to provide essential information to children and their parents on how to prepare for and respond to emergencies. 

“The playdates were created to help with the trauma that was left behind for the children after the Black Summer Bushfires,” she said. 

For Mrs Roque, this initiative is personal. 

“My husband, who is also in the SES, saved our house and my neighbour's house. I saw parents separated from their children as they stayed to defend their homes while the kids went off to find safety. I also volunteered for the Red Cross during this period, so I witnessed a lot of devastation on many fronts,” she said. 

“During the Black Summer Bushfires, we had no food, no fuel—no communications, no internet. Water was almost at risk, so this is why we are really pushing, in a fun way, the preparedness side.” 

The Emergency Services Playdates are a collaborative effort involving local council and local emergency services. 

NSW SES, NSW Police, Fire and Rescue, NSW RFS, Ambulance NSW, Marine Rescue, Australian Breastfeeding Association, and Red Cross, will all attend to working together to save lives and create safer communities. 

The Playdates will feature engaging activities for children, with various emergency service vehicles to explore, emergency services bingo, tug of war, music, colouring, a free sausage sizzle, and much more. 

NSW SES will hand out items such as evacuation bags, hats, pencil cases, library bags, and soft toys that have been kindly made by the Uniforms4Kids. Uniforms4Kids is a charitable organisation that has transformed donated SES uniforms into precious items for children in need.

NSW SES acting Commissioner Debbie Platz APM said the Playdates meant children and families could learn important lessons from NSW SES volunteers about how to prepare for and respond during floods, storms and tsunamis.

“We know disasters such as floods and severe storms can have major impacts on families and children in particular, so being able to engage with them in a fun and engaging environment helps us build better relationships,” acting Commissioner Platz said.

“Events like this help us to help the community understand their risk, become more resilient whilst learning how we can assist them during floods, storms and other emergencies.”

Following last year's Playdates, positive changes have been observed. NSW SES volunteers have been visiting preschools and feel they have become much more approachable to children.  

“The children are our future, and as a caring community, we have a commitment to them. We need to do our bit to prepare them for future weather events to come,” Jacklyn Roque said. 

The Emergency Services Playdates kick off today and will be held in three locations across the South-Eastern part of the state: 

Corrigans Beach Reserve, Batehaven: Monday, 21 October, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM  
Quota Park, Narooma: Thursday, 24 October, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM   
Riverside Park, Moruya: Monday, 28 October, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM