Local SES awarded

By Lachlan Ellis

Three volunteers from a local SES unit have been honoured for their service during the Black Summer bushfires, receiving a medal from the Governor-General.

Bacchus Marsh SES Unit members Mick Schembri and Dave Lambrick were awarded the National Emergency Medal by Governor-General David Hurley at a presentation on Sunday 5 March, while fellow Unit member Keith Muller received the medal at a later date.

The 2019 – 2020 bushfire season was declared a nationally significant emergency on 2 December 2020, which allowed the VICSES staff and volunteers to be put forward for nomination for a medal or clasp. Nominees for the medal receive a clasp if they have already received the medal.

Mr Schembri and Mr Lambrick said it was rewarding to be acknowledged for their service with the medal.

“I appreciate the recognition of my community service and helping others. Working with other emergency services was a great opportunity, many learnings to extend upon my skills and knowledge. Being deployed would not have been possible without the support from family and friends,” Mr Schembri told the Moorabool News.

“It was an honour to be part of the ceremony and receiving the recognition. Assisting with deployment during the 2019-2020 bushfires, attending community meetings and working alongside other emergency service organisations was very interesting and rewarding too,” Mr Lambrick added.

During the 2019 – 2020 bushfires, VICSES staff and volunteers were deployed to Incident Control Centres set up to manage the response in the affected areas. They also worked closely as part of a multi-agency team, alongside emergency management colleagues, at the State Control Centre.

Mr Schembri and Mr Lambrick were among 129 recipients of the National Emergency Medal from the VICSES Grampians Region, Metro Region, and Victorian Head Office at the 5 March presentation.

57 recipients from the Hume Region were also awarded the National Emergency Medal at a ceremony in Wangaratta on Saturday 4 March.