NSW SES Oberon Unit

01/06/2026

Severe Weather Warning
for DAMAGING WINDS
For people in parts of South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains and South West Slopes Forecast Districts.

**Issued at 10:42 am Monday, 1 June 2026**

Damaging winds to develop over southern and central ranges FROM TUESDAY MORNING.

Locations which may be affected include Katoomba, Braidwood, Lithgow, OBERON, Thredbo Top Station and JENOLAN CAVES.

20/05/2026

Today is Wear Orange Wednesday
WOW DAY

It is also National Volunteer Week

Wear something 🧡 today or drop a big 👍 or 🧡 in the comments below to thank your local SES volunteers. Your support will be very much appreciated.

The Oberon Unit is dedicated and proud to serve our community when assistance and emergency help is needed.
Volunteering is not always easy, it means time away from our families, dedication, resilience, teamwork, compassion, many hours of training and maintenance.

Over the last few months we have been responded to General Land Rescues, Road Crash Rescues, Support for Local Police and Ambulance and Storm jobs. Attended Community Engagement events.
Our newer members have been busy training and completing various SES Courses, Job Ready, Field Core Skills, Operate Communications Equipment and a Beacon Field Course. We regularly maintain our Vertical Rescue and Road Crash Rescue skills, familiarisation of Rescue Vehicles and Equipment.

On Monday we held a Interagency meeting with NSW Ambulance covering, availability, response, capability, liaison, rescue equipment, local knowledge and more.
We greatly appreciated the attendance, support and valuable discussion with NSW Ambulance Central West Zone 1, Area 3 Leadership.
Ron Gavin, Inspector Area 3
Jarrod Browning, Acting Station Officer Lithgow
Michael Garvey, Station Officer Lithgow
Brendan Bourne, Acting Station Manager Lithgow
Graham McCouat, Station Officer Rylstone
Chris Freeman, Station Officer Oberon
Thank you !!

The Oberon SES Unit is the Accredited Rescue Unit for Oberon and the surrounding area, a team who share a commitment to helping our community in emergency situations 24/7/365.

For emergency and life threatening situations call 000
For help during floods and storms call 132500

07/05/2026

On Tuesday 11th November at 16.43 Oberon SES responded to this same single vehicle Person Trapped RCR (Road Crash Rescue) on the Edith Road.
On arrival we found a vehicle had run off the road and into a tree. The female passenger had self extricated but the male driver was still trapped in the vehicle. Our Rescue Team carefully and efficiently gained access to the casualty then extracted him from the vehicle.
After the Rescue was complete we continued to assist NSW Ambulance with patient care and secured a location for Toll Ambulance Rescue to land close to the scene. We then assisted in moving the male patient to the helicopter, who was then flown to Liverpool Hospital. The female passenger was taken to Orange hospital by road Ambulance.

05/05/2026

Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues affected by last night’s tragedy in Ballina.

We extend our deepest condolences to everyone at Marine Rescue NSW. The loss of fellow volunteers is felt profoundly across our entire emergency services community.

We also acknowledge the life lost in the incident they were responding to, and extend our deepest condolences to their loved ones.

We honour the selfless dedication of those who serve, always putting their communities before themselves.

Last night was the darkest night ever experienced by Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers answer the call for help 24/7 and last night six members from Marine Rescue Ballina did just that. They launched with a single mission, to save lives on the water and assist a yacht, reported to be in difficulty off the South Ballina break wall.

Tragically, two of our volunteers lost their lives during the response.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said the devastating loss is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by volunteers who serve their communities.

“These two men were serving their local community and have made the ultimate sacrifice to help others.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of the deceased, their fellow crew members, the brave radio operators who handled the difficult communications during the incident, the entire Marine Rescue NSW family and the wider Ballina community during this incredibly difficult time.

“We are supporting our volunteers and their families through professional counselling and chaplaincy support.

“We ask that the privacy of those involved and their families be respected during this difficult time,” Commissioner Andrews said.

25/04/2026

ANZAC DAY 2026
For Our Diggers - We Don’t Forget

Honouring those who served and died in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Members of the Oberon Unit attended the Anzac Day Dawn Service and took part in the Anzac Day March and Wreath Laying.
A day shared with family and friends.

06/04/2026

Congratulations Matt on your NSW SES 40 Year Long Service Award. Your outstanding service, commitment of time, and selfless dedication to both the Oberon Unit and the wider community are sincerely appreciated.

Thank you to the Western Advocate for recognising our amazing volunteers from across the Central West.

'The SES is an unsung hero in a lot of local communities.'

26/03/2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for DAMAGING WINDS
For people in parts of Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and Central West Slopes and Plains Forecast Districts.

Issued at 3:55 pm Thursday, 26 March 2026.

Gusty showers and thunderstorms about central NSW.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Orange, Goulburn, Dubbo, Mudgee, Bathurst, Wellington, Oberon, Crookwell and Nerriga.

21/03/2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for HEAVY RAINFALL and LARGE HAILSTONES
For people in Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, Australian Capital Territory and parts of Central Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Lower Western, Metropolitan, South Coast, Riverina, Upper Western and Snowy Mountains Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:15 pm Saturday, 21 March 2026.

Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and possible large hail continuing to develop.

18/03/2026

TRAINING NIGHT Tuesday 10/03/2026

VERTICAL RESCUE TRAINING and Vertical Skills Maintenance

Members of the Oberon SES Unit used Roping Techniques to move a stretcher from point A to point B.
Teams utilised Basic and Advanced Hauling and Lowering Systems to complete the task in the allotted time frame.

We meet every Tuesday evening from 7.30pm, come along and say Hi if you are interested in Volunteering.