SES volunteers set to WOW Perth

FESA State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers will paint the town orange and put their skills on show tomorrow for Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW).

Volunteers from all over Perth will be hard to miss in their bright orange overalls as they celebrate WOW day, Western Australia's main focus for National SES Week (November 8-16).

Emergency Services Minister Rob Johnson said WOW day was a great opportunity for the public to show their appreciation for hard-working SES volunteers.

"SES volunteers are much-valued members of our community who help us through times of need and deserve to be acknowledged and thanked," Mr Johnson said.

"More than 1,800 highly trained and committed SES volunteers make themselves available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assist others in times of need.

"People can show their support for SES volunteers tomorrow by wearing an item of orange clothing or hosting orange-themed morning teas."

The main event will be held in the Murray Street Mall at 9.30am, where a team of SES volunteers will display their vertical rescue skills by abseiling down the side of the Murray Street lift tower.

There will also be a demonstration by the SES Tracker Dog unit plus a display of various emergency service equipment and vehicles.

Other WOW day celebrations will be held across the State as SES units conduct similar promotions with orange-themed morning teas or open days at local units.

The Minister said it had been a busy year for SES volunteers.

"During the storm season, SES volunteers across WA braved the cold, wet, windy and often dangerous conditions to come the aid of thousands of people," he said.

"They were also kept busy with search and rescue incidents from Exmouth to Norseman, helped communities in the Pilbara and Mid-West Gascoyne prepare and recover after Cyclone Nicholas and supported firefighting efforts during the bush fire season.

"Volunteers are preparing for what is expected to be another busy bush fire and cyclone season.

"Tomorrow is the perfect time for people in the community to say thank you to the volunteers who do such a wonderful job protecting them."