Sunshine Coast North SES Group Local Controller Stan Ryan, right, was presented with the Queensland SES Member of the Year trophy by Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey (Photo: SES Queensland)
 Group Leader Wondai Dean ‘Tiny” Wagenmakers was presented with a 25 years service medal by Member for Gympie David Gibson
 (Photo: Murgon SES)

November 25, 2013

Local SES members were presented with service medals at the recent SES Week State Awards ceremony held in Gympie.

Among the recipients was Group Leader Dean Wagenmakers, from Wondai, who was presented with a 25 years service medal.

Murgon SES medals were a real family affair …   Shirley and Cecil Long each received a 10-year medal, while family members Kerrie Le Du, and Ailsa and Angela Spiro each received 15-year medals.

Emergency Services Minister Jack Dempsey said the SES awards highlighted the important work of frontline services.

“A selection of SES volunteers from across the state who had already received regional awards have been further acknowledged with the state title in their respective categories,” Mr Dempsey said.

Stan Ryan, the Local Controller of the Sunshine Coast North SES Group, was named the Queensland SES Member of the Year.

“Stan has dedicated 32 years to improving resilience and his community’s ability to prepare for, and respond to, natural disasters through the development of a number of SES volunteers,” Mr Dempsey said.

“His ability to embrace change is exceptional having dedicated his own personal time and overcoming a number of challenges to merge six SES groups into one, while adapting their training and maintaining a high level of operational response capabilities.”

The Executive Director’s Shield for the Queensland SES Operational Response of the Year was awarded to the Eidsvold SES Group for its response to the January floods.

Shirley Long (10 year service medal), Cecil Long (10 year service medal), Acting Group Leader Kerrie Le Du (15 year National Medal), Ailsa Spiro (15 year National Medal) and Angela Spiro (15 year National Medal)  (Photo: Murgon SES)