VICTORIA’S State Emergency Service wants community criticism of unit receiving a national gong for a flood rescue performed by community members to end.
Members of the Marong unit were awarded a Australian Search and Rescue Awards last month for the January 2 rescue of a man from the swelling Nardoo Creek at Wedderburn.
The SES later acknowledged community heroes had rescued the man with a rope thrown to the man by an SES volunteer.
Calls for the unit’s professional volunteer award citation to be reviewed and include recognition of local heroes have been rejected by the Australian Safety and Maritime Authority.
An SES spokesperson said on Monday: “We are disappointed to see the ongoing criticism of our members in the local community. This is causing serious impacts to the mental health of volunteers. Our dedicated volunteers work extremely hard to keep their communities safe during times of need, while adhering to VICSES protocols and policies when it comes to responding to emergencies.
“VICSES will continue to support our members and applaud our volunteers for their continued commitment to the service and to their communities.
“In addition to this, VICSES would again like to thank the community members who supported our members to enact the rescue at the time, and their efforts prior to our members arriving on scene. The situation was extremely dynamic and emotionally charged for all.”
SES said the six unit volunteers recognised for their efforts as part of the award, attended the ceremony held in Sydney. The trip was funded by the authority and SES.
Attendance at the awards would have cost an estimated $5000 based on current airfare prices between Bendigo and Sydney and standard accommodation costs.
In the immediate furore after the award ceremony, SES said its crew had been “integral in getting a rope” out to the man trapped in  his vehicle.
“VICSES wants to acknowledge the significant role that several local members of the public also played in the rescue. We thank them for their response at a difficult and dangerous scene. 
“The award-class in which our volunteers were nominated, was within the Professional Volunteer Award category for volunteers from a trained rescue organisation. “The intervention of the SES land-based swift water rescue crew was integral in getting the rope to the individual and saving the man’s life.”