SES volunteers' Christmas party axed

But Wagga's State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have been left disappointed after being told they can't use funds they've raised locally this year to put on their annual Christmas party.

One Wagga-based volunteer, who requested not to be named, said volunteers were informed of the "unfair" new arrangement just two weeks ago.

"We don't think it's fair we go out there and raise all the money to build up our funds and get told we can't use them for a Christmas party," the volunteer said.

"Especially when members go out at 11 or 12 at night doing tree jobs, it's just not fair."

The volunteer said there was widespread discontent among the organisation's Wagga volunteers as a result of the changes.

The changes have been brought in to bring the SES' guidelines into line with state government regulations which stipulate funds raised by volunteer organisations for the purposes of operational requirements need to be used for those purposes.

SES Murrumbidgee controller James McTavish said the changes hadn't been popular but were necessary.

"You can't use government monies to have a party," he said.

"It's unfortunate and a number of people have expressed their dismay but there is nothing to prevent a member of the public to make a donation to their local unit for the express purpose of having a Christmas party.

"It's all about maintaining public confidence that we're spending money where people think it will be spent."

But the volunteer said the SES' Wagga Christmas party wasn't much of an impost on the organisation's funds, with last year's party catering for 60 people at a cost of just $700.

"A lot of the other members are really cranky, it's not just me," the volunteer said.

The volunteer said planning had been well advanced for this year's Christmas party when the decision was announced.

Mr McTavish said there was nothing stopping units from hosting a specific Christmas party fund-raising event to gather money to put towards an end-of-year celebration.