SES ‘Water Rats’ make waves with successful training weekend

State Emergency Service (SES) volunteer members from across Queensland assembled in Emerald last weekend for the annual ‘Water Rats’ training event.

The volunteers visited from Townsville, Ayr, Moranbah, Clermont, Rosedale, Bundaberg, Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Yaamba and Gracemere this year.

Sponsored by the Central Highlands Regional Council, the weekend aims to ensure qualified flood boat operators are able to complete their annual competency maintenance updates.

The Yeppoon Water Police also ran a search and rescue scenario of two missing paddle boarders, a valuable addition to this year’s program.

‘The Water Rats weekend serves as an important opportunity for SES members to actively engage in practical flood boat drills,’ said council’s Coordinator Emergency Management and Community Resilience, Glenn Bell.

‘These exercises are designed not only to refine their skills but also to significantly enhance their overall operational capabilities, ensuring they are better prepared for real-world situations.

‘It is a great training environment for SES members to participate, learn new skills and build relationships. Undertaking activities such as this provides confidence that when an event happens in the region, our SES crews are well trained and able to take on anything thrown at them safely.’

Mr Bell thanked the Yeppoon Water Police, the local SES unit and all of the volunteers who made the weekend such a great event.

‘Council are proud to support Water Rats every year and invest in the development of SES volunteers across the state,’ he said.

‘Bring on 2025!’

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