VICSES mother and son duo giving back to Wangaratta community

10/05/2026, 8:00 AM
VICSES Wangaratta Unit volunteers (from left) Ethan Earl, Tania Vickery and Megan Earl. Megan and son Ethan have been volunteering together since 2023.

As families across Victoria enjoy Mother’s Day today, the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) acknowledges and celebrates its cohort of mothers who go above and beyond, every day, to support their communities in times of need.

Wangaratta mum Megan Earl has an intimate understanding of the joys of volunteering as a mother, having turned out to local incidents alongside son Ethan since joining the VICSES Wangaratta Unit in 2023.

After returning to Megan’s home state of Victoria following an extended period across the Bass Strait, she and Ethan, then in his late teens, were seeking ways to involve themselves in their new community after experiencing the COVID pandemic, finding their way to a VICSES open day and being welcomed immediately by the local unit.

Donning the trademark orange overalls, the pair’s emergency response capability quickly progressed through targeted training in chainsaw response, first aid, truck driving, land-based swift water rescue, safe work at heights and road crash rescue (RCR), with both Megan and Ethan developing the vital skills they’d need to respond to critical local emergencies and save lives in the process.

Soon enough, Ethan could be found driving the unit’s rescue truck to incidents with Megan proudly taking photos from the rear seats as the two set off to support their communities in a crisis, the former fulfilling a childhood dream and his mother enjoying every step of the journey alongside him.

Both Ethan and Megan are now familiar faces around the unit, with Megan taking on the role of Deputy Controller responsible for Community Engagement, leading the unit’s presence at local events and exhibitions in an effort to improve emergency awareness in Wangaratta and the surrounding townships.

A respected operational member in his own right, Megan said Ethan was a calming presence in the team who had showcased his leadership qualities at a range of emergency callouts, a development Megan said brought her plenty of joy and pride.

Ethan and Megan Earl have been regular faces at emergency callouts across the Wangaratta region in recent years and have completed a range of specialist qualifications in the process.

Megan noted every callout the pair attended together was a special one for her, with both family members playing their role as part of the wider team to achieve positive outcomes in their community.

VICSES Wangaratta Unit is among the Hume Region’s busiest, with local volunteers called to more than 350 incidents in the 2024/25 financial year.

Boasting a female volunteer-base of 33 per cent, Megan is one of hundreds of VICSES mothers across the state set to celebrate today. VICSES thanks each and every one for their tireless support of their communities and their undying commitment to emergency response and preparedness across Victoria.

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

Quotes attributable to Megan Earl, VICSES Wangaratta Unit Deputy Controller:

“Being able to volunteer with VICSES alongside my son has been such a joy. Any callout we attend together is one to remember because I’m so proud to be there helping the community together.

“Our unit is an inspiring place to be and provides a really strong family atmosphere which is so welcoming and supportive of new members. To be able to grow as a volunteer alongside Ethan has been so incredibly special.

“When other sons are moving out of home and starting their adult journey on their own path, I am so privileged to have Ethan want to strengthen our relationship in such a selfless way through volunteering together in emergency response.”