WOW Day: Cathy cooks up emergency response
Published on 20 May 2025
Whether our Singleton SES crews are in training or on the front line responding to an emergency, you can be sure that Cathy Holz is working hard behind the scenes to keep them nourished.
Cathy became an SES volunteer when she retired 18 months ago, finding her niche as the organisaiton’s welfare officer and fulfilling her goal to help people.
“I knew a couple of the boys [in the SES], and it’s all just a good big family group now,” she says. “I just thought this was a way give back to the community. I was talking to Simon Merrick one day and he said there’s probably a job over there for you, and he said come over and see Tim, so I did.
“I cook tea every Wednesday for them, and if they’re active then I make sure they’ve got food here [at the headquarters], so if they’re out then they come back and there’s supplies here for them.
“I’m here every Wednesday, except when State of Origin’s on because they have those nights off.”
Cathy specifically went in search of a role that didn’t involve directly responding to emergencies—but she’s still very much involved. She is now licensed to drive SES vehicles and was part of a training day at Lake St Clair where she not only cooked the barbecue but secured funding to pay for it.
She’s one of the many SES volunteers being celebrated as part of WOW Day—or Wear Orange Wednesday—the national day held each 21 May to thank SES volunteers. While everyone in the community is encouraged to wear orange on the day, the Singleton Sundial will also be lit up in orange until 26 May.
“I didn’t want to go out; I’m quite happy doing what I do every Wednesday night,” Cathy says. “I go up to their meetings and then when they go to their training, I just disappear. But I am part of the team, and whatever’s going on, I’m included.”
And Cathy says the rewards of volunteering go far beyond the benefits of giving back.
“I just needed something to fill in my time. I retired last March after 34 years, and I thought I can’t just not do anything,” she says. “So, I decided I’d do this, and I do two days a week at the community op shop and that fills in my time now. I love it, and I’ve met more friends.”
Singleton Council works closely with volunteer organisations such as the SES when supporting the response to emergencies and disasters and for events such as the Singleton Emergency Services Expo.
While this Saturday’s Expo has been postponed due to the ongoing adverse weather and the deployment of emergency services in response, Council is still lighting the Sundial up orange in recognition of volunteers and encourages everyone to wear orange on WOW Day.
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