'Wear Orange Wednesday' shows support for NSW SES volunteers

'Wear Orange Wednesday' is an annual campaign in light of National Volunteer Week, and for The Rock Deputy Unit Commander Danni Fraser, it was a pleasure to be a part of.

"It's all an experience, you get to meet and work with such a variety of people and hear their stories, I love it," she said.

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While there was a lot of variety on the job, a large part of volunteering with the SES was extremely familiar to Mrs Fraser.

Her husband, Keith, was already a member before she joined, and their now 17-year-old and seven-year-old daughters are part of the NSW SES family too.

"I was always helping my husband and some friends out with a lot of the paperwork and stuff because I was involved in other charity work and sort of knew the ropes, so thought I'd give it a go," Mrs Fraser said.

"We have volunteers of all ages too, 20, 30, 40-year-olds, and it's all so close knit.

"Even the young blokes - who are pretty gun hoe - it's great seeing them come in and take the time to sit with guys 20 years older than them."

The 43-year-old joined the service when she was seven months' pregnant in 2013, and has experience both the good and the bad of the role.

One of the most memorable experiences she recalled had a little of both qualities, where a 90-year-old Port Stephens man asked for help clearing a tree - all the while offering cups of tea.

"He called us a week after a storm event up there, asking for help with a tree on his house," Mrs Fraser said.

"He was trapped in his house for a week with no food or electricity, but he didn't want to be a hindrance."

In light of the national celebration for volunteers, Mrs Fraser encouraged everyone to give the SES a try.

"Just go down and have a look at your local unit, because there's always something for everyone," she said.

"You don't have to be out in the storms or at car accidents, there is so much more to it, like teaching people and talking to kids about safety or even helping out with meals and administration."

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