General News
3 November, 2024
Pressure builds to fix citation error
DEMANDS are growing for correction of the national award citation presented to the State Emergency Service’s Marong unit for a Wedderburn flood rescue. A vocal Wedderburn critic of SES hierarchy, Reg Holt, says federal and state ministers should...
DEMANDS are growing for correction of the national award citation presented to the State Emergency Service’s Marong unit for a Wedderburn flood rescue.
A vocal Wedderburn critic of SES hierarchy, Reg Holt, says federal and state ministers should step in after the SES last week acknowledged just one volunteer had been part of the dramatic rescue of Paul Winter from the swollen Nardoo Creek on January 2.
The National Safety and Rescue Council award citation gave all credit to the SES volunteers.
“There is a moral responsibility of the ministers to enquire into the standard set for such awards to be authorised,” Mr Holt said.
“If our politicians are not prepared to maintain a code of honesty and integrity in prestigious national awards, it will be a poor reflection on the standard of MPs we are electing.”
Mr Holt said any attempts by governments to brush off the award embarrassment would be a disgrace.
The awards are administered by the Australian Maritime and Safety Authority and a spokesperson said on Monday: “Nominations are submitted to the NATSAR Council for consideration, and award decisions are based on those nominations.
“As such, the council will not be reviewing the citation for this award,” the spokesperson told the Loddon Herald.
An SES spokesperson said: “The Australian Maritime Safety Authority co-ordinate the Awards including the nomination process and citations.”
Federal minister Catherine King, responsibe for the authority, is yet to respond to Loddon Herald questions about the award furore.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said: “Everyone involved in this incident should be commended for their actions which ultimately saved a life. Nomination criteria and acceptance of nominations for the AMSA awards is a matter for them.”
Mr Holt said: “The SES itself has now admitted the citation for its self-nominated award does not accurately tell what happened that night.
“How can a Federal Government authority think it is acceptable to say no review needed?”
The authority’s rejection of a review comes after revelations late last week that at least one complaint about the SES was made during the summer storm floods.
In an email to SES chief operations officer Tim Weibusch seen by the Loddon Herald, a resident wrote: “I’m a resident of Wedderburn and was at the scene of the water rescue on January 2, it was a great relief that our town was assisted in this rescue as it was a very serious incident the vehicle was actually swept from the road and into the water channel ,everything was quite stressful and there was quite a number of people that had gathered in the area.
“After the man was successfully rescued an SES volunteer from a second unit turned and said that they ‘had to come all the way from Bendigo when Wedderburn should support itself’ and he seemed to be put out, by the whole situation.
“This comment was not called for and was heard by numerous people that had gathered I found it to be very hurtful , unprofessional as well as uncalled for.”
The complaint also alleged the volunteer “laughed and snikered (sic)” after being told the comments were unwarranted.
“It definitely wasn’t appreciated by the many people that heard his remarks,” the complaint said.
The SES has refused to say how many complaints were received about its presence in Wedderburn during the summer storms.
“Any complaint received is dealt with privately and confidentially in the interests of all parties in line with the VICSES regulations,” a spokesperson said.