May 19, 2026
Long-serving North Burnett Local Disaster Management Officer Vicki Callinan was presented with a Police Commissioner’s Certificate at a special farewell morning in Gayndah on Saturday morning.
Current and former State Emergency Service volunteers, Queensland Fire Department officials and current and former North Burnett Regional Council members attended the event, held at the Gayndah SES facility.
Assistant Police Commissioner Kevin Guteridge presented Vicki with the Commissioner’s Certificate which recognised her long and dedicated career in the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases of disaster and emergency management across the region.
In 2013, she was instrumental in supporting the response to ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald, a catastrophic event which caused widespread losses of infrastructure as well as severely affecting local farms and businesses.
“Vicki’s support in to post-event recovery operations was exemplary and aided in the delivery of the State’s fastest infrastructure recovery on record,” the Commissioner’s citation read.
The citation also emphasised Vicki’s involvement in the region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, flash flooding at Dallarnil in 2022 and several major bushfires.
More recently, she contributed to the disaster response to major flooding which occurred in March this year in the Gayndah and Mundubbera areas.
Vicki was also presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the North Burnett SES Unit for her exceptional support over many years to the unit.
QPS North Coast Region Emergency Management Co-ordinator William Gretton said her retirement was a sad day for the SES.
“Your expertise in disaster management, combined with your invaluable local knowledge has been a cornerstone of our operations and something we will mis,” he said.
Vicki was a key part of both the North Burnett Local Disaster Management Group and the Bundaberg District Disaster Management Group.
