Volunteers and staff from Victoria State Emergency Service and Search and Rescue organisations across the state, including from Shepparton and Tatura, were honoured for their work during the 2019-2020 bushfires.
The VICSES members were awarded the National Emergency Medal by Governor-General David Hurley at Wangaratta on Saturday in recognition of their sustained and significant service during that event.
Many emergency service volunteers and staff from the wider Shepparton region helped during the catastrophic blazes.
On Saturday, 57 recipients and 80 guests from Hume Region attended a ceremony at the Performing Arts and Convention Centre in Wangaratta.
The 2019-2020 bushfires were declared a nationally significant emergency on December 2, 2020, which allowed VICSES staff and volunteers to be put forward for nominations for a medal or clasp.
Nominees for the medal receive a clasp if they have already received the medal from previous emergency events.
During the 2019-2020 bushfires, VICSES staff and volunteers worked locally, regionally, across the state and interstate, with a total of 535 days in service for the disaster, which ravaged the east coast of Australia and killed 34 people and destroyed 3500 homes.
SES personnel were deployed to fire grounds, staging areas, local command facilities and fire stations, incident control centres and the state control centre. Members worked closely alongside emergency management personnel from many agencies.
The presentation ceremony was also an opportunity to thank and acknowledge family and loved ones, who enable the volunteers and staff to consistently respond to community need during times of emergency.