VICSES Fawkner Unit father, daughter pair building generational legacy

06/09/2026, 7:00 AM
VICSES Fawkner Unit father and daughter duo Shane and Megan Lapworth have spent 12 years volunteering alongside each other.

As Father’s Day fast approaches, Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) pays tribute to its incredible cohort of fathers from across the state who provide skilful emergency response and undying commitment to their community each and every day.

Throughout Victoria, many of these fathers will be hopeful of an emergency-free day as they celebrate with their families this Sunday, 6 September, however, will remain ready to respond in the event their community needs their support.

For long-time VICSES Fawkner Unit volunteer Shane Lapworth ESM, this passion for his community has become a family affair, responding alongside wife Connie for more than 20 years and welcoming daughter Megan into the fold as soon as she turned 18.

Inspired through years of stories as a child of her father’s exploits as a founding member of VICSES Whittlesea Unit and an eight-year tenure as VICSES Fawkner Unit Controller, Megan couldn’t wait to don the orange overalls alongside her parents, quickly proving herself a capable and committed volunteer among her peers.

Now with 12 years of service together under their respective belts, Shane has been a constant mentor to Megan, providing priceless advice and guidance as she pursued her truck licence and completed crew leader training as an emerging leader of the unit.

Shane Lapworth ESM is one of hundreds of VICSES fathers expected to be celebrating Fahter's Day with family today.

In his role as Deputy Controller – Operations, Shane now works closely with Megan, a Section Leader within the Operations portfolio, to manage one of the state’s busiest VICSES units which saw local members called to more than 750 incidents and activities in 2025/26 and giving more than 5,000 volunteer hours in the process.

While Megan relishes the opportunity to see a different side of her father through his VICSES service, for Shane, the chance to spend time and mentor his adult daughter as she follows in his footsteps is a special one.

Recently inducted as a Life Member of the VICSES Fawkner Unit, Shane’s leadership experience and tireless commitment to his community has laid the blueprint for many in the unit to ascend as leaders, a course Megan hopes to follow herself in the coming years under the tutelage of her father.

With around 5,000 VICSES volunteers representing 150 VICSES units across the state, Shane will join hundreds of VICSES fathers in celebrating this Sunday. VICSES thanks them each for their service and for their remarkable drive to prepare communities and respond to emergencies throughout Victoria.

To find out more about volunteering with VICSES, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.

Quotes attributable to Shane Lapworth ESM, VICSES Fawkner Unit Deputy Controller:

“VICSES has been a major part of my life over the last 25 years and to be able to continue that passion alongside my family is incredibly special to me.

“Megan’s commitment to her community and her willingness to take on advice over the last 12 years has been remarkable and I’m so proud of the volunteer and leader she has become in the process.”