Jade
| Name: |
Jade |
| I live: |
Melbourne |
+Who Am I?+
My name is Jade, i'm a student at Monash University studying Arts, with an intended double major in Politics and Archaeology. I'm in the middle of planning a trip to Greece to attend a course in Greek archaelogy. Before it i'll be travelling through Asia, and after through Europe (mainly Italy and London). I've also only just recently gotten back from a trip to New Zealand (explains the sheep photo!!). While i'm actually at home i'm a member of the State Emergency Service, which is my small contribution to the community. The SES for me is a committment of only one day a week, plus on call work, when i'm avaliable. It fits in around work, school, social events, and yet i can still contribute not only to the community, but to the lives of families in times of need (affects of nature). I got into the SES though my involvement in the Scouting association, which was another avenue of mine to contribute to the community. In 2003 I attended a world jamboree in Thailand with the movement where everyone in attendance (about 10,000 youth from around the world) spent a day in the community building projects (we went to a school where a playground had been constructed by other scouts, our job was to paint the fences).
+How Can I Help?+
The SES or State Emergency Service is an essential part of a community, but also a relativley unknown one as well. The SES is responsible for what happens when nature's fury is unleashed, essentially storm damage (fallen trees, flooding, property damage). They are also utilised as a relief service for other emergency serives, for example it is not uncommon for the SES to assist the police in search and rescue opperations, or for lighting and scene preservation at a crime scene. The work can often be long and tiring (demands physical labour) but is also very rewarding. I remember a few months ago attending a call out and having the lady say to me "Thank-you for smiling, because it really makes me feel like everything is going to be ok, even if its not." As it turns out her property suffered relativley little damage, but this is not how it feels to a person when you've just had a tree fall on your roof. Its nice to know that by simply showing up in a pair of orange overalls you can offer a person all the personal assurance they need. The SES exists in some format in every state and territory through-out Australia, in both regional and suburban areas (regional areas may only have a CFA depending on volunteer numbers) and is always looking for able members. Recruitments and training are different at every unit so if you are interested give your local unit a call or jump on the net to find out about attending an information session.
www.ses.vic.gov.au
+Where Am I Heading?+
Later in life I plan on being either an archaeologist, or a teacher, or both!! Not only because I love the material, but because both contribute to society. A teachers work is obvious, but a historian I believes is an essential part to any functioning society. For without a record of the past mistakes, we cannot advoid making them in the future. As such i'd say Indiana Jones inspires me, not because I want to be him (hahaha, but it would be cool) but because he regards history in the same context that I do.
+Who Inspires Me?+
One of my best friends and one of the greatest people you'll ever meet, subbie. I think it is quiet possible i've just lived through the worst two days of my life to date... to get you up to date, a parent in hospital, a hangover from a regretable night before, finding out one of my best buds has joined a cult and is recruiting other friends, and to help top it all off, getting fired from a job i hate before i could quit... What did i do after every one of these events? Without even realising i'd done it, i'd picked up the phone and called her, because i knew she'd be the only one in the world to say something that i'd believe in (good or bad). She inspires me because she is my knight in shining armour, not just now, but whenever i need her. And that takes a lot of strength, to be there for those who need you, in the good and bad, and still have enough time for yourself. I'd like to say its a two way street, yet i always feel she's there more for me than i am for her. She inspires me to be a better person.
