Service accolade for SES volunteer

Donnybrook State Emergency Service volunteer Luke Hollis has been named a finalist in this year’s SES Awards.

Mr Hollis, 20, has been nominated for the Youth Achievement Award, designed to recognise 16 to 25-year-old volunteers who have made a valuable contribution to their unit.

Flattered is one way to describe how he feels.

‘‘Being a part of the SES has been a great way to give back to the community,’’ Mr Hollis said.

‘‘And it’s a great way to meet people and make friends.’’

FESA chief operations officer Lloyd Bailey said the finalists had each made an outstanding contribution to their area and it was wonderful to see them recognised for their work.

‘‘These awards give us the opportunity to acknowledge volunteers have done exceptional work in their own time for the emergency services,’’ he said.

‘‘It is also an opportunity to thank all of our SES volunteers who continue to commit countless hours to keeping communities safe.’’

Mr Hollis, who has been a member of the SES for three years, cites the aftermath of the June storms as one of the most memorable operations he has completed during his time with the SES.

‘‘The only way we could communicate was by radio, because the storms had taken out internet and phone lines,’’ Mr Hollis said.

‘‘It was a great team-building experience and very rewarding to help so many people in need.’’

The SES Awards are presented in three categories.

The Peter Keillor Award is given to a volunteer who has gone beyond the call of duty.

The collective work of a team or unit is recognised with the Team Achievement Award and the Youth Achievement Award acknowledges the outstanding contribution of volunteers aged 16 to 25.

Nominees are judged on their dedication to duty, involvement in the development or implementation of programs, contribution to the service and excellence in preparedness as well as response and safety at an incident.

The awards will be presented in November.