The volunteers of the Shepparton Search and Rescue Squad have been a constant for the Greater Shepparton community and beyond.
When tragedy strikes, SS&RS members across the board are ready to take on whatever they may be called to.
In 2019, three members took on an emergency outside their designated scope — well outside their scope.
Damien Lea, Carl Zabilowicz and Michael D’Elia travelled to Corryong during the 2019-20 bushfires. The three men were on standby for 24-hour stints in the event of a road crash rescue occurring.
The catastrophic fires ravaged the east coast of Australia, resulting in the destruction of 3500 homes and killing 34 people.
The bushfires were declared a nationally-significant emergency on December 2, 2020 for the purpose of the National Emergency Medal. This allowed VICSES staff and volunteers to be put forward for nominations for a medal or clasp.
Damien and Michael were presented the medal by Governor-General David Hurley on Saturday, March 4, while Carl received his on Monday, March 6 from VICSES operations manager Christopher Brockwell.
Michael, who is also the SS&RS vice-president, said it was a “real honour”.
“It's a significant recognition of the work that we do and the volunteer hours that we put in,” he said.
“Personally for me, it's one of those things that's recognition for hard work, perseverance and the amount of effort that our families put in.”
Damien, Carl and Michael were three of 57 people to receive a National Emergency Medal last month.
The medal is awarded to people who render sustained or significant service during nationally-significant emergencies in Australia.
Only five events have been declared nationally-significant for the purposes of the National Emergency Medal — the 2019-20 bushfires, the Queensland floods across 2010 to 2011 and Cyclone Yasi, north Queensland floods in 2019, Cyclone Debbie in 2017 and the Victorian bushfires in 2009.
“We’re the first three people here in rescue in Shepparton to have gotten the medal,” Michael said.
“So for us, and the squad, that’s a pretty big deal.”