The clouds rolled in but thankfully the rain held off, so as not to spoil the 2016 Northshore SES Annual Unit Awards.
Local Manager Northshore SES Nick Elliott thanked all members and their families for the ongoing dedication and commitment shown towards the unit, saying “The overall success of the Northshore SES unit is largely attributable to the general membership, the guys and the girls who turn up, week in and week out and just make it happen. We are this year, as we are every year, acutely aware of know how much time each and every one of (you) give, and we are truly thankful for (your) efforts.”
Nick then read out the winners of the 2016 Northshore Awards, which were presented by District Officer Metropolitan North Coastal Graham Sears, as follows:
New Member Award – For commitment above and beyond that which would normally be expected of an SES volunteer of less than 24 months service.
Winner – LAURA SNOWBALL.
Laura receiving the 2016 New Member award
Laura joined Northshore in February 2016, and from the moment we met her we just knew that she would be a valuable member of the unit, and despite having still not yet having clocked up 12 months of service, that has absolutely proven to be the case. Her sunny disposition and eagerness to learn new skills make her an absolute pleasure to be around, and watching her develop from someone who was not particularly keen of heights and somewhat nervous about walking on a roof into someone who was recently some 30 metres in the air on the platform of Perth CLP, should remind us all of the opportunities available for personal growth within the SES. Laura is always happy to help out around the unit and will take on anything asked of her, demonstrated perfectly when she was asked to be a member of the Exercise Prepare team due, stepping right outside of her comfort zone and participating as a valuable member of the team.
Quiet Achiever Award – For ongoing commitment to the service without request for accolade or reward.
Winner – JOSH WILLOX.
Josh receiving the 2016 Quiet Achiever award
Josh is always willing to help whenever and wherever needed. He’s the one who will come into the unit especially for one off jobs, like lifting generators off vehicles. He’ll return phone calls left by all sorts of everyone on the answerphone, he’ll stay back after every training session and every callout until all the jobs are complete, and he will then specifically ask if there is anything else that needs doing. He goes quietly about the business of being a member of Northshore, and the management team know that they can call on him at any time if required. Josh was also a member of the Exercise Prepare team putting in the extra hours of training that all the team committed to. His dependability and willingness to help out in any way, makes him a valued and much appreciated member of the unit.
Local Manager Award – To recognise dedication & commitment to the service that has gone above and beyond that which could be expected of any SES volunteer.
Winner – ROS WOOD.
Ros receiving the 2016 Local Managers award
Everyone knows the hours that Junior Doctors have to work and the pressure that they’re under, but that has never stopped Ros from attending training and callouts whenever she was not on shift.
When her pregnancy meant that she was no longer able to undertake the physical requirements of being a member, Ros created a new niche for herself within the unit by helping to pull callout teams together on SMSer, assisting the Ex Prepare team with their training, and advising members on eAcademy and other training related issues. Not only did Ros come to training whilst in the early stages of labour, but she only missed one weeks training after having the baby. And she insisted that baby’s father (also a Northshore member) maintain his commitments to the unit by spending a whole day at the Exercise Prepare challenge when the baby was just 9 days old.
Ros’ enthusiasm and passion for the Northshore unit and its members is abundantly clear, and her willingness to help anyone with anything makes her a truly popular and an absolutely critical member of the unit.