VICSES North West Metro volunteers honoured for outstanding service
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers from Melbourne’s northern and western metropolitan suburbs have been honoured over the weekend for excellent and extensive service to Victorian communities, with more than 350 years’ worth of long service awards presented.
Held at Melbourne Zoo on Saturday, VICSES’ North West Metro area awards ceremony acknowledged a cohort of volunteers boasting between five and 40 years’ of service with VICSES, continuing the organisation’s annual awards initiative.
VICSES stalwarts David Edwards (VICSES North West Metro Regional Unit (NWMRU)) and Raymond Brown (VICSES Brimbank and NWMRU) were each presented their 40 year clasps on the day, adding to a pair of storied careers which have seen both awarded Unit Life Memberships and David inducted as VICSES Life Member previously.
Both former Unit Controllers of their respective units, David and Raymond each hold a National Medal 2nd clasp for exceptional service in their communities and are among VICSES’ most experienced campaigners.
VICSES Footscray Unit volunteer and boating expert Darren Williams was presented his 30-year clasp at the ceremony, acknowledging his decades of work supporting boat rescue capability locally, while Simon Hetherton (Hobsons Bay), Gary Mackinnon (Nillumbik) and David Di Scipio (NWMRU) celebrated 25 years of service.
VICSES Fawkner Unit pair Connie Lapworth and Shane Taylor were honoured for two decades of continued service as was VICSES Whittlesea Unit volunteer David Bradley, while Ken Mudie (Fawkner) and Kristian Hetyey (Nillumbik) marked 15 years with VICSES.
A further 12 members were acknowledged for either 10 or five years of dedicated service to their communities.
Several National Medals were also awarded in recognition of 15 years of diligent service, with David Culshaw (Craigieburn), Jennifer Chivilo (Footscray) and David Brien (Heidelberg) awarded an initial medal, while George Katris (Heidleberg) and Sean Tiller (Hobsons Bay) were awarded a clasp in acknowledgement of 25 years of outstanding service.
The event was rounded out with the awarding of local excellence awards celebrating the work of volunteers behind the scenes to strengthen the VICSES organisation and its membership.
Acknowledged with the Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion award, VICSES NWMRU Deputy Controller Kat Barrett was celebrated for her continued efforts to increase cultural, gender and ability diversity within her unit, while representing VICSES at inclusive community events such as the Melbourne Deaf Festival to increase awareness of VICSES as an inclusive volunteer organisation.
VICSES Nillumbik Unit volunteer Lacey Martin received VICSES’ Excellence in Health and Safety award, denoting her contributions as a trusted workplace health and safety delegate and health and safety leader within her unit, always representing the interests of her fellow volunteers with passion and care.
The event was rounded out with VICSES Heidelberg Unit volunteer George Katris being awarded the Excellence in Learning and Development award, acknowledging his outstanding planning and execution of a large-scale boating exercise along the Maribyrnong River in 2025.
The award highlighted George’s ability to bring multiple units and partner agencies together to boost collaboration and skills development while maintaining a safe but realistic environment for all involved.
Saturday’s event follows a busy year for VICSES North West Metro area volunteers, who were called to almost 4,300 incidents in 2024/25.
To find out more about volunteering with VICSES, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.
Quotes attributable to Brad Dalgleish, VICSES Operations Manager – North West Metro Unit Support Team:
“VICSES volunteers don’t volunteer for the accolades but it’s important we can acknowledge their outstanding service when the opportunity arises.
“Our members show incredible commitment to their communities purely because they enjoy being there for those in need. These awards a small token of our appreciation for the remarkable work they continue to do locally and beyond.”
