Centuries of volunteer service honoured at VICSES Hume region event
Volunteer first responders from across Victoria State Emergency Service’s (VICSES) Hume region have been celebrated for their undying support of their regional communities as part of the organisation’s long-service awards initiative.
More than 650 years of volunteer experience was present at the Wangaratta Gateway for Sunday’s event, which saw a host of members boasting between five and 50 years of persistent service recognised for their vital role in emergency response and preparedness across the region.
Among the longest-tenured recipients was VICSES Euroa Unit stalwart Neville Lynch, who was recognised for an incredible 50 years of continuous service and as one of only 15 VICSES founding members still serving with the organisation in 2026.
Originally a member of the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad based at Blairgowrie, Neville’s passion for his community saw him part of VICSES during its formative years in the 1970s and his service continue upon moving to the state’s northeast.
VICSES Myrtleford Unit volunteer and former long-time Controller George McPherson was honoured for 45 years of service, having held the unit’s top job for 14 years shortly after joining the service in 1979, while VICSES Yackandandah Unit pillar Joe Riella was acknowledged for 40 years of outstanding service to his community.
VICSES Wangaratta Unit duo Vincent McKenzie (30 years) and Colin Warden (25 years) were celebrated for their remarkable commitment over multiple decades, as was VICSES Numurkah Unit volunteer Kylie Knight (25 years), while VICSES Operations Officer Dan Walton and VICSES Wodonga Unit volunteer Annette Armstrong received clasps signifying 20 years of tireless service.
The quartet of Debbie Bonanno (Tallangatta), Tracey Harper (Wangaratta), William McRae (Bright) and Michael Sidoti (Yackandandah) were honoured for 15 years of service, while a further 17 others were acknowledged for either five or 10 years of dedicated involvement.
Sunday’s event also allowed the presentation of the National Medal to several volunteers in recognition of at least 15 years of diligent service with VICSES or other volunteer emergency response organisations.
Karen Bradshaw (Kilmore), Tim Watkins and Tracey Harper (Wangaratta) and Megan Vearing and Zachary West (Tallangatta) were presented an initial National Medal in acknowledgement of their remarkable contributions over several years, while Neville Lynch and fellow VICSES founding member and Beechworth Unit volunteer Ian Sinclair were awarded a 3rd Clasp to their National Medals, signifying at least 45 years of exceptional service.
The event was rounded out by the presentation of a series of organisational excellence awards, celebrating the work done by units and volunteers behind the scenes to improve emergency response and community preparedness.
VICSES Kilmore Unit volunteers Corey Finger, Jo Catanzaro, Carly McDowell, Karen Bradshaw and Maddy Moncrieff were awarded the Excellence in Community Engagement award, recognising the unit’s increased presence at community events in recent years, driving emergency awareness, fundraising and volunteer recruitment across their response area.
VICSES staffer Brendan Corboy was awarded the Excellence in Innovation award for his work developing and streamlining systems used to plan and execute intra and interstate deployments during major emergencies, utilising online forms to gauge volunteers’ availability and allow command staff to more efficiently establish taskforces.
VICSES staff member Sara-Jane Bowering was awarded the VICSES Values award for her work underpinning local service delivery, displaying unwavering commitment and exceptional credibility while building and fostering relationships with volunteers, fellow staff and partner organisations, enhancing VICSES’ reputation in the process.
Fellow staff member Liz Frazer was awarded the Excellence in Community Engagement award in acknowledgement of her tireless work behind the scenes implementing innovative approaches to emergency preparedness, on which she presented at the 2025 Flood Management Australia National Conference and was conferred the Young Floodplain Manager Outstanding Presenter award.
Finally, VICSES Seymour Unit Controller Christine Welsh was conferred the VICSES Values award, recognising her incredible work supporting the redevelopment of the VICSES Murchison Unit and the rallying of the local volunteer-base, allowing the unit to regain its footing locally and build community confidence and trust in its emergency services.
Sunday’s event follows a busy year for Hume region VICSES volunteers, called to almost 3,700 requests for assistance in 2024/25, including more than 2,000 for trees down and 500 rescue-related callouts.
To find out more about volunteering with VICSES, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.
Quotes attributable to Scott Richter, VICSES Operations Manager, Goulburn-Broken Unit Support Team:
“Our VICSES volunteers do incredible work in their communities both pre-emptively and in times of emergencies without the expectation of acknowledgement for their efforts.
“We have so many incredibly experienced members who continue to lend their expertise to local emergency response and awareness and it’s important we celebrate that fact at every opportunity.”
