SES volunteers recognised for life-saving efforts

Newman SES were the first unit to respond when the three-year-old was reported missing on a station 150km north of Newman, a rescue operation that was complicated by heavy rain from ex-Tropical Cyclone Blake.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM said the SES Awards, held in Perth last night, recognised the invaluable contribution of volunteers keeping the community safe.

“This year’s award recipients went far beyond the call of duty, demonstrated exceptional dedication to their communities and in some cases, were involved in life-saving operations,” Commissioner Klemm said.

“Over the past 12 months, SES volunteers attended over 1,170 incidents and volunteered 34,000 hours of their time to help communities across the State respond to cyclones, storms, floods, land search and rescues and other emergency situations.

“The SES Awards is an opportunity for us to show our gratitude and thanks to our SES volunteers, who put their personal lives on hold to train and respond to incidents to help those in need.”

The Peter Keillor Award was presented to Tania Millar from the Mandurah SES for her work with local cadets, and Jeremiah Peters from Mount Barker SES, who become the Deputy Manager after only a year of volunteering, received the Youth Achievement Award.

The 2020 State Emergency Service Awards recipients are:

Team Achievement Award
Newman SES
The Newman SES was the first unit to respond when a toddler went missing on a remote Pilbara cattle station in January. Tropical Cyclone Blake had already stretched the region’s resources in preceding days but, understanding the urgent nature of the emergency, the crew quickly responded when the call came through. The search for the two-year-old went through the night and into the following day in wet and muddy conditions. Eventually the toddler and family dog were successfully located and returned to their family by a search helicopter. The Newman SES demonstrated diligence, courage and determination as first responders during the search.

Peter Keillor Award
Tania Millar, Mandurah SES
Tania has been a Mandurah SES volunteer for 13 years. As a Senior Team Leader, it’s her responsibility to prepare and lead the team’s response to incidents such as storm damage and land searches. Tania also has a strong leadership role with the Mandurah SES Cadet Program where she trains, mentors and inspires the next generation of SES responders. Her efforts have strengthened the Mandurah SES and contributed to the overall success of the unit. Tania sets an outstanding example with her commitment to volunteering.

Youth Achievement Award
Jeremiah Peters, Mount Barker SES
Jeremiah has volunteered with the Mount Barker SES for four years, beginning when he was 18 years old. A year into his volunteering, he accepted the role of Deputy Manager, stepping up to guide his team in a number of incidents, including the successful rescue of six people injured in the Porongurup National Park. Despite juggling work and study commitments, Jeremiah is a committed member of the SES, helping with recruitment, training, mentoring young members and unit maintenance.

For more information about the 2020 SES Awards visit dfes.wa.gov.au/awards

Media Contact: DFES Media and Corporate Communications 9395 9543