VICSES southwest region volunteers credited for remarkable service

26/05/2026, 4:15 PM
VICSES Port Campbell Unit volunteers Karen Curell (five years) and Peter Younis (35 years) were among those acknowledged for their long-service to local communities in the state's southwest.

Staff and volunteers from across the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) southwest region have been honoured for their incredible support of communities both local and interstate in times of emergency, recognised at an event in Warrnambool at the weekend.

More than 150 years VICSES commitment was acknowledged during Saturday’s ceremony at Deakin University, part of VICSES’ annual long service awards initiative recognising the efforts of VICSES members statewide.

VICSES Port Campbell Unit stalwart Peter Younis was the longest-tenured volunteer celebrated on the day, having joined VICSES in 1990 and subsequently provided incredible emergency response and support to his community over ensuing decades.

Peter was awarded a clasp in recognition of 35 years of VICSES service, while his VICSES Port Campbell Unit colleague Ian Harris joined VICSES Warrnambool Unit volunteers Adam Jones and Che Wellens in celebrating a quarter century of dedicated service.

VICSES Lismore Unit volunteer Anthony Butcher and VICSES Warrnambool Unit volunteer Adam Borthwick were each conferred clasps acknowledging 15 years of VICSES service in their local communities, while David Smith (VICSES Hamilton Unit), Karen Currell (Port Campbell) and Jackson Bell (Geelong Office) were each presented pins signifying five years of involvement.

A pair of National Medals were subsequently awarded in recognition of members who have given 15 years of diligent and remarkable service to VICSES and other volunteer emergency response organisations, with VICSES Assistant Chief Officer Jackson Bell and VICSES Heywood Unit volunteer John Stirling honoured for distinguished involvement in their communities.

VICSES Port Fairy Unit volunteer Maxine Kelly was presented the NSW Premier's Flood Emergency Citation by VICSES Chief Officer Operations Alistair Drayton, acknowledging her service on deployment during devastating flooding across NSW's Northern Rivers region in 2022.

The event also saw the formal presentation of the New South Wales Premier’s Flood Emergency Citation, which celebrates the remarkable efforts of emergency responers deployed to NSW during devastating flooding in 2022.

As part of the award, VICSES volunteers Colin Malin (Portland) and Maxine Kelly (Port Fairy) received a letter of appreciation signed by the NSW Premier, Minister for Emergency Services and NSW SES Commissioner, a pin and a commemorative certificate in acknowledgement of their vital role supporting communities across the Northern Rivers region in early 2022 as part of a VICSES taskforce.

Saturday’s event follows a busy year for VICSES Southwest region volunteers, who were called to almost 1,600 incidents in 2024/25 including more than 1,100 relating to storm and more than 160 road crash rescue incidents.

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

Quotes attributable to Nicholas Cowham, VICSES Assistant Chief Officer:

“Our VICSES volunteers across the southwest do an incredible job of being there for their communities in times of need and it’s important we acknowledge and celebrate that commitment when we can.

“Whether it be a storm, road crash or high angle rescue response or a major interstate flooding event, our volunteers turn out to provide vital support when and where it is most required, saving lives in the process.”