SES’ newest recruits come to Spoonville rescue

The volunteer emergency services say they will continue to keep an eye over the “villes” until further notice 

Clearing fallen trees, search and rescue operations, and fighting floods are all in a day’s work as a Special Emergency Services volunteer. 

On Sunday however, volunteers in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs were called in to deal with a different kind of emergency – the destruction of a Spoonville in the suburb of Edithvale.  

Originating in Britain, villages (sometimes numbering in the hundreds) of intricately decorated spoon characters have popped up all over Melbourne during the coronavirus lockdown as a way of entertaining kids and adults on their daily walks.  

Phil Wall, Chelsea SES police and media liaison officer, told Pro Bono News the timing for the rescue couldn’t have been better.  

“Because the role of the SES is to protect the community, and the Spoonvilles have become a really important part of the community, one of our members had actually created some volunteers as a fun way of protecting the villages,” Wall said.   

Volunteer spoons come to the rescue

And just hours after the newest team members were announced via social media, they had their first job.

“When we got to the destroyed site, there was a little girl crying and some other kids that were really upset. But we were all able to jump in and help fix the village up,” he said. 

Volunteer spoons have now been deployed to all Spoonvilles in the area, and with some attracting upwards of 500 spoon characters, Wall said there would be no room for the new recruits to slack off.  

“We did leave the SES [spoon] member there to keep an eye on them,” he said.

Wall added that it was important groups such as the SES got involved in the community, especially during such a difficult time for Victorians.    

“We are from the community, for the community, so why wouldn’t we want to look after it?” he said.  

Members of the Chelsea SES helping deploy the new recruits

SES volunteers in SpoonvilleWant to keep up to date? See more at the Chelsea SES Facebook page.