SES Emerald on the job at Dallas Brooks Scout Park

Members of the SES Emerald arrived at Dallas Brooks Scout Park to find a huge tree across the front gate to the Park. Follow our web story pictures to see what a great job was done to liberate the front gate and allow access to the park for our walkers and campers.

A bit more about the Crushing Tale of the Front Gate

On Thursday April 30th, a couple of local lads rang the Park (volunteer) booking manager, Trev, to report a .40 year old tree had fallen across the front gate. They sent a photo. Its a good thing they did. Trev would never have believed them otherwise.

There had been a lots of rain in the preceding weeks, the clay ground was soaked, the tree canopy heavy. Days of high winds had finally tipped the otherwise healthy tree clear out of the ground – roots and all.

Infrastructure damage

The main gate to the Park is a metal framed, cyclone wire gate is only one item of importance at the front gate. There are adjacent wire boundary fencing and timber and metal posts. There are also the above-ground stop cocks for the mains water. Remarkably there was very little damage done. A lucky escape too, that nobody was camped inside the site, nor daytime activity visitors expected in the park. With a tree of that size across the gate there was certainly no way for vehicles to drive out of the property via the front gate.

SES-Emerald arrives at the Park

After a quick courtesy call to the local CFA Captain ( so that they knew there was no access to the Park), the next call was made to the SES (State Emergency Service). Without hesitation, the volunteers of the Emerald SES were mobilized. What a professional team!

They arrived with all the right gear, the right expertise, and a fabulously great attitude. Two men and a woman ( who all declined to be named) got stuck into the task. They knew exactly what to do, how to do it, and all done safely. According to our bystander it was the woman who did most of the chainsawing. Love that.

But there is more

The two main trunks of the fallen tree were not only cut from the canopy, but the trunks were also recut so that they could be manhandled off the roadway. This extra level of service from the SES team meant that one of the Park’s quiet achiever, invisible volunteers was then able to manoever the logs into the park.  Stacked out of the way to dry for next year’s firewood. Great job mate.

The SES Emerald has liberated the front gate. The Park volunteers have swung into action as well. Dallas Brook Scout Park at Upper Beaconsfield is back in business. Thanks to all.

If you would like more information about volunteering with the Emerald SES contact via email or  check out the SES website

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