FOR Beechworth SES volunteer Chris Novak, shifting from Melbourne for a tree change to a small country town has given him a chance to give back to community.

Chris, with fellow volunteer Samantha Getty, spoke to community members and visitors alike at Saturday Beechworth Farmer’s market about the local SES role emergency service.

The volunteer-based organisation manages emergency response to storms, floods, tsunamis and earthquakes across the state.

“I enjoy the challenge and learning new tasks - things I don't normally do in my day-to-day job,” Chris said.

“There's training given and when you when you sign up as a volunteer, there is a certain pathway you need to go through with SES courses.

“Once people pass initial training, volunteers are eligible to do some more specialist courses such as search and rescue, four-wheel driving, high angle rescue response and road crash rescue adding to their skills.”

Chris said learning new skills as part of the volunteer-based organisation added to his personal development and gave him more confidence to administer first aid in potential emergency situations encountered in every-day-life.

Samanatha said she loved being engaged with the community in her volunteer role.

“I do tree jobs and search and rescue,” she said.

The volunteer enjoys the challenge of an all-hours call-out.

“I haven't been on a search and rescue for a couple of years now, but probably the last one was up at Hotham just before it started snowing heavily searching for a missing person," she said.

Beechworth SES controller Charles Dean said SES revolves around helping the community in emergency situations with the team as first responders.

“Being an SES volunteer is a chance to help people when they need it most and is a very immediate service to the community,” he said.

“People also get to join a great team of community-minded people with social aspects as well.”

Charles said training is undertaken at regional headquarters in Benalla.

“We’re helping the community like other community organisations but in our case it’s in an emergency situation when people need it the most,” he said.

“It’s an essential service or our town and helps make our town more resilient.”

Charles said the operation with volunteers called upon runs around the clock all hours across seven days a week.

The local controller also said more people who volunteer would boost numbers for the local team, helping to share attendance at emergency situations.

“People are welcome to come along to 7.30pm training sessions held every Tuesday night at 1 Radcliffe Road, Beechworth for more information," he said.

“We will be delighted to show them around and provide more information or we can be contacted by email at beechworth@ses.vic.gov.au.”