Volunteers and staff from the VICSES were honoured for their work during the 2019-2020 bushfires recently with Yarrawonga Unit Controller Jason Forber and volunteer Gerald Nunn recognised.
Fifty-seven recipients and 80 guests from Hume Region attended a ceremony at the Performing Arts and Convention Centre in Wangaratta where several VICSES members were awarded the National Emergency Medal by His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DCS, Governor General of Australia, in recognition of their sustained and significant service during that event.
Mr Forber said it was an honour to receive the medal alongside crew member Mr Nunn and to see neighbouring crews also recognised during one of the darkest periods in Australia’s history.
“It was a really good day and it was nice for the governor general to come to the ceremony,” Mr Forber said.
“It was fantastic to see a lot of people from the North East being recognised for their hard work and to catch up
The 2019 - 2020 bushfires were declared a nationally significant emergency on December 2, 2020, which allowed VICSES staff and volunteers to be put forward nominations for a medal or clasp. Nominees for the medal receive a clasp if they have already received the medal, from previous emergency events.
During the 2019 - 2020 bushfires, VICSES staff and volunteers worked locally, regionally, at state and were deployed interstate with a total of 535 days in service for this disaster which ravaged the east coast of Australia and killed 34 people and destroyed 3,500 homes.
SES personnel were deployed to fire ground, staging areas, local command facilities, and fire stations, Incident Control Centres and the State Control Centre.
Members worked closely alongside emergency management personnel from many agencies.
The presentation event was also an opportunity to thank and acknowledge family and loved ones, who enable volunteers and staff to consistently respond to community need during times of emergency.
Congratulations to VICSES staff and volunteers for their necessary work during our most challenging times.
This award from the people of Australia rightly acknowledges and memorialises their contribution through adversity for our communities, and for the nation.