NEW BURDEKIN SES LOCAL CONTROLLER ANNOUNCED

Ms Wade (centre-right) was officially sworn in during an SES ceremony last Monday following an extensive selection process involving council and SES members. Photo supplied.

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Ayr State High School acting deputy principal Cheryl Wade has been appointed local controller of the Burdekin State Emergency Service (SES).

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Ms Wade, who relocated from Cairns late last year for her role at Ayr State High School, was officially sworn in during an SES ceremony last Monday following an extensive selection process.

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While Ms Wade described the appointment as “very rewarding”, she said she was prepared for the demands of the voluntary position.

“What does it mean to me? O.M.G,” she laughed.

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“I’m going to be a very busy woman, but I was made that way. I was deputy principal before I took this role on and will continue to stay in that role.

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“The difference now is that I'm helping bring a team together, with a lot of planning and working alongside [Burdekin Shire Council] during disaster seasons.”

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Ms Wade brings with her three years of prior SES involvement in Cairns. She said she is eager to make her mark in her new role, citing team togetherness and enhanced training programs as key elements that will guide her tenure.

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“I want to see the Burdekin better supported with SES and to grow the team. I’m a face and advocate for the team, but our crew is very diverse. My role is about bringing that team together as one,” she said.

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“I'm also focusing on training of volunteers; training for heights, driving boats and boat safely in rapids, and working towards their certificate if they're interested. It’s about up-skilling people and then drawing on the vast experience of our older members.”

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Ms Wade said her tenure will also focus on increasing support for the more rural areas in the region.

“I suppose the biggest thing [for Burdekin SES] is being a presence here and being supportive within the region. We are the lifeline,” she said.

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“I want to expand more into the outer regions where storms and floods have a big impact. We need Rita Island and Giru communities to continue to step up—being involved allows them to actually get the support they need for their areas, and it's important that everyone's included.”

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Ms Wade said Burdekin SES is open to any volunteers interested in helping keep the community disaster ready. She urged anyone aged 16 or over with interest in joining the diverse crew to enquire through council.

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“We’ve got young people all the way up to some in their late 80s. Everyone is welcome to reach out," she said.

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