The Shoalhaven SES Wilderness Search Group was formed in September 2001 following a number of call outs where specific wilderness skills were needed. The formation of the WSG also coincided with revived interest sparked by success in the annual Emergency Services Navigation Shield competition.
The aim of the group is to provide the police with experienced teams of searchers with extensive local wilderness knowledge and who can respond quickly and with capability of searching deep wilderness areas for long periods (say up to 3-5 days) with minimum support.
The group meets for training on the first Wednesday of each month at 1930 (following the regular 1900 meeting) at the HQ in Albatross Rd.
Additionally, the group holds regular training expeditions, to hone skills, train group members and importantly to maintain familiarity with both popular and remote wilderness locations.
NavShield. Each year the WSG group enters teams in the annual Emergency Services Navigation Shield, a 29 ¼ hr State-wide competition where teams have to gain as many checkpoints as they can in an area of approx 150 square kilometers. The event is organized as an annual emergency services training event where you can compete in any number of categories and of any length of time (up to 29 ¼ hours) in wilderness country within 2-3 hours drive of the Sydney metropolitan area, and against other SES and Emergency Service Organizations throughout the State. Each year the WSG arranges teams of similar capability and intention for the NavShield event. How many checkpoints can your team find ? There are multiple categories for team entry (from very easy, up to difficult) and there are always places available for your assistance with camp management and transport if you don’t want to participate in the event. Many SES units use the annual event for networking, for integrating search and other general members, for developing and refining map reading, navigation, and bush skills, for determining suitability of members for real searches, and of course for the social aspect ! You don’t have to “go hard”, it really is up to each team to set their own goals to get the most out of the event within each teams capability.
The Shoalhaven WSG has won the SES section of this competition for the past 8 years and in 2008 they were placed 1st overall.
Integration of WSG with General SES. Each year the WSG group works with SES team leaders to arrange an annual search / communications event to integrate team members within the unit and develop / refine skills required for an actual search event in a remote area. This usually involves a long expedition of 2-3 days where SES provide support and communications to the WSG team (s) walking. This year (2008) the event was a great success, being held in the Bundundah Creek area (between Sassafrass and Yalwal) and was very rewarding for both the WSG and SES general members who participated. Planning is already under way for the 2009 event.
If you have an interest in Bushwalking with a community purpose…. then come along and check us out. We have a great core of very talented searchers who are friendly and very willing to share their knowledge and skills.
Requirements. You will have to join SES and complete the induction course and first Aid. After this you can chose to be in the WSG only or you can complete other courses and join the rescue, storm damage, administration, or communications teams as well. If you wish to be a full member of a search team you will be expected to attend most of the monthly meetings and be expected to come along on a minimum of 2-3 training expeditions a year.
The aim of the group is to provide the police with experienced teams of searchers with extensive local wilderness knowledge and who can respond quickly and with capability of searching deep wilderness areas for long periods (say up to 3-5 days) with minimum support.
The group meets for training on the first Wednesday of each month at 1930 (following the regular 1900 meeting) at the HQ in Albatross Rd.
Additionally, the group holds regular training expeditions, to hone skills, train group members and importantly to maintain familiarity with both popular and remote wilderness locations.
NavShield. Each year the WSG group enters teams in the annual Emergency Services Navigation Shield, a 29 ¼ hr State-wide competition where teams have to gain as many checkpoints as they can in an area of approx 150 square kilometers. The event is organized as an annual emergency services training event where you can compete in any number of categories and of any length of time (up to 29 ¼ hours) in wilderness country within 2-3 hours drive of the Sydney metropolitan area, and against other SES and Emergency Service Organizations throughout the State. Each year the WSG arranges teams of similar capability and intention for the NavShield event. How many checkpoints can your team find ? There are multiple categories for team entry (from very easy, up to difficult) and there are always places available for your assistance with camp management and transport if you don’t want to participate in the event. Many SES units use the annual event for networking, for integrating search and other general members, for developing and refining map reading, navigation, and bush skills, for determining suitability of members for real searches, and of course for the social aspect ! You don’t have to “go hard”, it really is up to each team to set their own goals to get the most out of the event within each teams capability.The Shoalhaven WSG has won the SES section of this competition for the past 8 years and in 2008 they were placed 1st overall.
Integration of WSG with General SES. Each year the WSG group works with SES team leaders to arrange an annual search / communications event to integrate team members within the unit and develop / refine skills required for an actual search event in a remote area. This usually involves a long expedition of 2-3 days where SES provide support and communications to the WSG team (s) walking. This year (2008) the event was a great success, being held in the Bundundah Creek area (between Sassafrass and Yalwal) and was very rewarding for both the WSG and SES general members who participated. Planning is already under way for the 2009 event.
If you have an interest in Bushwalking with a community purpose…. then come along and check us out. We have a great core of very talented searchers who are friendly and very willing to share their knowledge and skills.
Requirements. You will have to join SES and complete the induction course and first Aid. After this you can chose to be in the WSG only or you can complete other courses and join the rescue, storm damage, administration, or communications teams as well. If you wish to be a full member of a search team you will be expected to attend most of the monthly meetings and be expected to come along on a minimum of 2-3 training expeditions a year.
The WSG program for 2009 is shown here, and can also be found on the board down at HQ.
For further information call WSG Team Leader Cliff Harris on 0402 019 882, or Deputy Team Leader Scott Wells on 0402 003967, or just come along at 7PM on the first Wednesday of the month.
Track Notes for Bundundah Creek Walk.
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