Appointment of new SESVA Secretary
With the retirement of long serving Secretary Lin Booth, the Management Committee has appointed Allen Gale ESM to the position. Many of you will know of Allen’s long association with the SES in WA having commenced as a volunteer in 1970.
Allen undertook numerous volunteer leadership roles with the SES up until 1989, including that of Local Manager, at which time he joined the WA State Emergency Service as a Training Officer based in Belmont. The the next 15 years saw Allen working across the state with SES units and volunteers, developing strong relationships and helping to build a well trained and well equipped community based emergency service that all West Australians could rely on and be proud of.
In 2005 Allen was appointed the Media Liaison Officer for FESA where he lead the media response during major incidents as well as providing support to volunteers and staff to build confidence and establish relationships with the media.
In 2013 Allen returned to DFES Operations Command as District Officer Operations Executive to provide strategic advice concerning processes and change management in relation to the SES which include considerable liaison and collaboration with executive members of the SESVA and representing DFES on the WA SES Volunteers Advisory Committee.
Allen retired two years ago to enjoy life with his retired wife Kaye, a former SES volunteer leader, and to spend quality time with family and friends. He continues to volunteer at the DFES Education and Heritage Centre in Perth and was recently co-opted to the SESVA Historical sub-committee due to his extensive involvement with the SES and broad ranging experience of the emergency services in WA.
He brings with him the required skills and experience to assist the SESVA and its members to meet its commitment to support and represent the interests of the SES volunteers and is eager to be part of a team that preserves our unique Civil Defence and SES history, while building our current strengths and seizing opportunities to advance the SES here in WA and nationally.
