George Mitchell retired from his job as a printer with News Limited back in 1993.
But retirement didn’t sit well with him.
His son Jason had become a member of the SES Melton unit and as he prepared to leave his house for a call-up one blustery night in 1998, he phoned his dad and encouraged him to join up.
“I’d been sitting at home with nothing to do, watching TV, and he [Jason] said, ‘Join the SES’ – and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Mitchell says.
Mitchell, 73, was among 97 SES volunteers recognised for their commitment to the Victorian community at the annual SES awards.
It is 15 years since he began volunteering with the Broadmeadows unit, and he counts the 47 other volunteers in the unit as close friends. His call-outs have included visiting storm-damaged houses and attending to flood damage and fallen trees.
Despite the intensity of his role, Mitchell hasn’t tired of the work.
“I’m hoping to get another 10 years in,” he says.
Police and Emergency Services Minister Kim Wells presented the Broadmeadows resident with the service’s national medal for 15 years’ service.
“All recipients richly deserve their award for selflessly volunteering their time and efforts for the benefit of the community through their continuous years of service,” Wells said.
“Like any SES volunteer, they have had to answer the call to action at the expense of their personal and professional time and have made sacrifices in the interests of community safety that are to be commended.”
The state government has committed $47.39 million to the SES in the 2013-14 budget. The SES across Victoria has also received more than $2 million in grants for equipment as part of the government’s Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program.
