Media Release - Hinchinbrook SES Commended State Wide

The Hinchinbrook Local State Emergency Services (SES) unit and volunteers have been formally recognised as among the best in the State.

At a recent awards ceremony in Townsville the Hinchinbrook unit received the North Queensland Regional Operational Response of the Year Award, for their work and contribution to the community during the March 2018 flood events.

SES Local Controller Rodger Bow who received the award on behalf of the local service unit stated that he was encouraged by the recognition and thanked the volunteers for their effort and commitment during the events earlier this year.

‘The SES is built on the good will of thousands of members across the state. It is people helping people, mates helping mates, designed to empower people to help themselves and others in their community in times of emergency and disaster.’

At a local awards ceremony which took place at Council on Monday 29 October, Robert Morris and Eddie Danieli both received SES Week Awards for their response to the Halifax community during the March flood events and retired volunteer Doug Ladner received the State Emergency Services 40 years of Service award for his valued and continuous contribution to the community. 

Mayor Ramon Jayo thanked the volunteers for their commitment and dedication to the SES and considered their impact crucial in the ongoing resilience of the community.

‘The SES is the primary responder for storm and flood events. SES volunteers play a vital role in the community and I thank them for their time and commitment. A special thank you must go out to Mr Ladner who for the last 40 years has served the community through the Hinchinbrook SES, your commitment and dedication has been exceptional.’

The Queensland SES is a not-for-profit organisation with 6,200 active and unpaid volunteers. The Queensland SES performs a diverse range of functions in response to events and also provides support to other agencies such as Queensland Police Service including search and rescue, emergency traffic management, and road crash rescue.

SES volunteers are trained and equipped to help their communities across a range of functions, and their primary purpose is to assist the most vulnerable members of the community.

Please visit the Queensland State Emergency Services website for more information, www.ses.qld.gov.au.