Andrew McDonough | NSW State Emergency Service

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as much as you put in with the SES so just jump in and give it a go, there's a job for everyone in the SES and there are so many different avenues you can specialise into.'" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="" /> <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Andrew McDonough" /> <meta property="og:type" content="website" /> <meta property="og:url" content="http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/volunteer/volunteers-list/andrew-mcdonough/" /> <meta property="og:description" content="'You get out as much as you put in with the SES so just jump in and give it a go, there's a job for everyone in the SES and there are so many different avenues you can specialise into.'" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="NSW State Emergency Service" /> <meta property="og:image"> <meta content="" property="fb:admins"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="apple-touch-icon.png"> <link 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While I am still a member at the Warringah/Pittwater unit I have also transferred to the Bathurst SES rescue unit in 2017 while I attend university here in Bathurst.</p> <h3>What sparked your interest in the NSW SES? How did you come to join the NSW SES?</h3> <p>My late grandmother actually suggested I join so I could start giving back to the community that I grew up in. So I ended up looking up what the SES was and how to join, I gave my local unit a call and I guess the rest is history now.聽</p> <h3>Why do you choose to be an SES Volunteer?聽</h3> <p>It started as just a general desire to help people out in times of need but it's so much more than that now. I love the challenges that SES provides, it pushes me out of my comfort zone to achieve amazing things.聽Working in a team is also really important for me聽and I've found there is a聽great sense of comradery in the SES as everyone is bonded by a common goal of wanting聽to help their communities in times of need which is great. I love that we are able to go out to people on what is perhaps one of the worst days of their lives and we can help resolve whatever issues they have, and in terms of rescues, we are even able to help save their lives. I honestly couldn't imagine my聽life without being in the SES and I count it as probably the best thing I've ever done with my life.</p> <h3>What is your most memorable experience in your time as a NSW SES volunteer?</h3> <p>Tough one cause there have been so many over the past 6 years, of the most memorable would have been the 2015 East Coast Low which hit the Northern Beaches resulting in over 1000 jobs for our unit alone within a few days. The extent of the damage was so bad that we'd leave headquarters to attend a job and would come across several trees and roofs across roads that you'd have to clear before moving on to the original job. Then we got hit again in 2016 resulting in a further聽800 jobs, several flood rescues, mass evacuations and major coastal erosion in Collaroy. It was a very聽tiring but exciting 2 weeks of continuous operations for me and聽the Warringah/Pittwater unit.</p> <h3>What would be your top tip for young people who may be thinking about becoming an NSW SES Member?聽</h3> <p>You get out as much as you put in with the SES so just聽jump in and give it a go, there's a job for everyone in the SES and there are so many different avenues you can specialise into. I started my SES career straight out of high school with no experience or聽special skills. Now I'm able to help rescue people trapped in road crashes or industrial and domestic accidents, lead teams, fell trees using chainsaws, repair roofs and participate in search and rescues for missing persons聽just to name a few, and the NSW SES can聽definitely聽do the same for you.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 360.4020781567653px;" src="/media/3206/andrew.jpg?width=500&height=360.4020781567653" alt="" data-id="266901"></p> </p> </div> <br /> <div class="content__introduction_lower"> <p> <p><span>Thinking about becoming a聽volunteer聽like Andrew but not sure what you'd like to do?聽</span></p> <p><span>Learn more out about our various聽<a data-id="2972" href="/get-involved/volunteer/" target="_blank" class="orangeBtn_link">Volunteering Roles</a></span></p> </p> </div> </div> <div class="rhs-menu"> <a class="promoBlock" href="javascript:void(0)"> <img src="https://d2hg3d5wd4b8wd.cloudfront.net/media/6769/ses-2024-future-flood-may-side-tile.jpg" alt="" class="promoBlock__image" onclick="window.open('https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/flood-awareness-nsw/sydney-rivers/hawkesbury-nepean-valley/', '_blank' )"> <div class="promoBlock__title" onclick="window.open('https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/flood-awareness-nsw/sydney-rivers/hawkesbury-nepean-valley/', '_blank' )"></div> </a> <div class="events__block"> <div class="events__block__location">Ballina CBD </div> <div class="events__block__media"> <img src="https://d2hg3d5wd4b8wd.cloudfront.net/media/1818/martch.jpg" class="eventBlock__image" alt="Ballina Rotary Walk Against Domestic & Family Violence" /> </div> <a class="events__block__title" href="/get-involved/community-events/api/ballina-rotary-walk-against-domestic-family-violence/">Ballina Rotary Walk Against Domestic & Family Violence</a> <span class="events__block__day">Friday</span> <span class="events__block__dateTime">29/11/2024 12:15 PM to 29/11/2024 02:30 PM</span> </div> <div class="events__block"> <div class="events__block__media"> <img src="https://d2hg3d5wd4b8wd.cloudfront.net/media/6317/hazards-near-me-app.gif" class="eventBlock__image" alt="" /> </div> <a class="events__block__title" target="_blank" href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app">Download the Hazards Near Me app</a> </div> </div> <a style="display: block;" href="#header" class="back-to-top"> Back to top </a> </div> <div class="mobile-overlay second-nav"> </div> </div>  <ul class="usefulLinks"> <div class="wrapper"> <li>Useful links</li> <li><a href="https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html" target="_blank">Live Traffic</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/live-traffic-nsw">My Road Info</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">NSW Police</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">Fire and Rescue</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">Rural Fire Service</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/" target="_blank">Bureau of Meteorology</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/nsw/" target="_blank">ABC News NSW</a></li> </div> </ul> <footer> <div class="footerHelp"> <div class="wrapper"> <a href="/when-to-call" class="footerHelp__contact"> <span class="footerHelp__contact__info">For emergency help in flood, storm and tsunami</span> <span class="footerHelp__contact__number">132 500</span> </a> <a href="/when-to-call" class="footerHelp__contact"> <span class="footerHelp__contact__info">For life threatening emergencies call</span> <span class="footerHelp__contact__number">000</span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="footerLinks"> <div class="wrapper"> <img src="https://d2hg3d5wd4b8wd.cloudfront.net/images/logo-footer.svg" class="footerLinks__logo" alt="NSW Government Logo" /> <ul> <li><a href="http://my.ses.nsw.gov.au/" target="_blank">mySES</a></li> <li><a href="/resources-folder/member-self-help/">Member Self Help</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/contact-us/">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/copyright-and-disclaimer/">Copyright & Disclaimer</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/access-to-information-and-privacy/">Access to Information</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/publications-and-reports/">Publications & Reports</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/resources/">Resources</a></li> <li><a href="/about-us/employment/">Employment</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.nswsesva.org.au/" target="_blank">Volunteer Association</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.wowday.com.au/" target="_blank">Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </footer> <div class="mobile-overlay mobile-menu"> </div> <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://d2hg3d5wd4b8wd.cloudfront.net/scripts/jquery-1.12.0.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.onegov.nsw.gov.au/CDN/feedbackassist/feedbackassist.v1.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> caBoootstrap.init("https://feedbackassist.onegov.nsw.gov.au/feedbackassist"); 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Andrew McDonough | NSW State Emergency Service