VICSES member excellence honoured at State Controllers Seminar
Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers and staff from across Victoria have had their exceptional efforts honoured as part of an annual conference for volunteer leaders.
Hundreds of VICSES members gathered in Creswick at the weekend for the 2026 VICSES State Controllers Seminar, sharing experiences, engaging with senior VICSES staff and reflecting on a busy year for the organisation, with the event culminating in the award of organisational excellence awards and the conferral of VICSES Life Membership to a host of the organisation’s most dedicated members.
Among VICSES’ most prestigious honours, Life Membership acknowledges at least 20 years of exceptional service and dedication to emergency response, cementing the incredible contributions of members held in the highest regard by their peers and the communities they serve.
Having been awarded the rare Emergency Services Medal as part of the 2026 Australia Day Honours, the award of VICSES Life Membership to VICSES Monash Unit Controller George Haitidis ESM continued a landmark year for the 21-year veteran of the service now in his 18th year in the unit’s top job.
A trained divisional commander and willing operational volunteer who has been instrumental in the coordination of response during large-scale storm and flood operations, George’s trademark calmness under pressure and undying support of his fellow volunteers exemplify the characteristics of a VICSES Life Member.
A VICSES member of more than 40 years, having spent almost 19 years as VICSES Whitehorse Unit Controller before joining VICSES staff and becoming one of the service’s most well-travelled members, Alan Barnard ESM has left his mark on communities across the state.
Over his more than 20 years on staff, Alan has managed regional operations in the state’s northeast, southwest, northwest and central regions for extended periods, while lending his voice to a host of committees and working groups to strengthen the volunteer experience locally and outside his immediate vicinity.
A persistent advocate for member wellbeing, Alan has also played an instrumental role in driving and promoting the use of mental health resources to support volunteers and the broader development of the VICSES Peer Support Program, greatly strengthening the welfare of members.
The trio of newly minted life members was rounded out by VICSES Rushworth Unit pillar Christopher Doig, an operational volunteer of more than four decades whose expert response to major flood, road crash rescue and other complex emergencies has had a profound impact in his community.
Having spent more than 20 years as part of the Rushworth Unit Management Team, including a decade as Controller, Chris’s exemplary leadership has been instrumental in developing local volunteers, while also finding time to contribute to training initiatives across the state to mould VICSES’ next generation.
Chris’ ability to build partnerships in his community, build resilience locally and lead dependably has seen him widely respected by those he serves and wholeheartedly embody the spirit of VICSES.
VICSES Cobram Unit Controller Luke Herezo and Deputy Controller Kate Goldsmith were also awarded the rare Commendation for Service as part of the ceremony, acknowledging their life-saving reaction after a community member fell unconscious during a local ANZAC Day Service last year.
The pair, in attendance at the annual Cobram Secondary College ANZAC Day service on behalf of the unit, rushed to the patient’s side as they became unresponsive and stopped breathing, working tirelessly and with great composure in front of a 300-strong crowd to provide CPR until Ambulance Victoria paramedics could arrive.
The patient’s heartbeat was successfully restored through the Cobram pair’s intervention, with Ambulance Victoria and the patient’s family confirming the results would have been tragically different without VICSES’ quick response.
Throughout the evening, additional awards were also presented to members going above and beyond to improve the volunteer and member experience across the state.
Staff member Lisa Psaila was conferred the VICSES Values Award in recognition of her remarkable commitment to refining the service’s Honours and Awards guidelines and processes, promoting increased visibility and accessibility to awards to ensure volunteers and staff are adequately recognised for their service to communities.
Fellow staffer Brendan Corboy was awarded the State Excellence in Innovation award, having designed and implemented a refined VICSES Member Deployment process to improve efficiency for command staff and ensure volunteers can be better deployed where they need to be, with the necessary skills and with considerations of fitness and fatigue built into the platform.
George Haitidis joined VICSES Heidelberg Unit volunteer George Katris in accepting the VICSES State Excellence in Learning and Development award, acknowledging the pair’s leadership and coordination of a large-scale boating skills exercise on the Maribyrnong River last year.
The pair expertly managed the safety and learning outcomes of more than 70 volunteers from across the state and enhanced attendees’ critical operational skills, ensuring members are better prepared to respond to flood emergencies and support communities in times of need.
The annual award of the Peter Rabone Shield, in recognition of State Excellence in Peer Support, was conferred to VICSES Portland Unit stalwart Ray Polaski, a Peer Support Team Leader whose professionalism and compassion as well as his advocacy for mental health and wellbeing has normalised help seeking in his community and beyond.
Finally, VICSES Wedderburn Unit was awarded the State Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion award, after volunteers undertook Auslan training to truly include a deaf member in unit operations, improving internal teamwork and external community engagement in the process and contributing to a broader cultural shift across their region.
To find out more about volunteering with VICSES, visit www.ses.vic.gov.au/join-us.
Quotes attributable to Rob Purcell, VICSES Chief Executive Officer:
“VICSES couldn’t be the organisation it is without the incredible contributions of its people from across Victoria, each working tirelessly to keep their communities safe and strengthen hazard resilience in all corners of the state.
“It’s vital we celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of our members whenever possible and thank them for their continued commitment and diligent service before, during and after an emergency occurs.”
