The National SESVA – change of chairperson
On behalf of the SESVA committee in WA and the broader volunteer community, we congratulate Greg Cook on his appointment as chair of the National SES Volunteers Association Ltd (NSESVA), and we also extend our deepest gratitude to retiring chair, Gordon Hall ESM, for his service, sacrifice, and the transformative role he played in positioning the NSESVA for continued success.
Gordon is a Mandurah SES volunteer whose enduring commitment, resilience through challenging times, and unwavering dedication to rebuilding and strengthening the NSESVA have left an indelible legacy.
He has retired from the position of chair of the NSESVA, marking the close of a significant chapter in the organisation’s leadership journey. As a key member of the executive team, Gordon’s leadership helped guide the Association through periods of uncertainty, fostering a culture of perseverance and renewal that continues to shape its future.
About the National SESVA. In the late 2000s, planning for a national body began, culminating in a pivotal 2012 meeting at the AFAC Conference. A Working Group was formed in 2013 and the NSESVA was registered in May 2015 as a not-for-profit company, expanding to include all states and territories by 2018. Learn more here.
A Little more about Gordon M Hall ESM
Gordon’s formal background is in Electronic Engineering; however, he has always been involved in the community in many voluntary capacities, including as a District Governor for Apex, a charter President for a Lions club and the Chair of a School Council. His Voluntary service in the SES started in 1993, at the Swan SES unit (WA), involving him in many searches and operations, including floods, storms and cyclone responses.
Gordon has been involved in the WA SES Volunteers Association since 1995 and has served as a Secretary and President, as well as an SES Consultative Committee representative. Gordon was appointed to the first FESA Board representing the State Emergency Service. Later that year, he was appointed as a Director with FESA and retired in 2011. During the period with FESA, he was involved in many operations and was a key operative in the tsunami research and community preparation for Australia, as well as the resettlement of an indigenous nomadic group from Kiwirrkurra. Currently, he is a member of the Mandurah SES and serves as the Chair of the WA SES Volunteer Advisory Committee.
In 2018, the National SES Volunteers Association, a registered not-for-profit company, elected him as their Chair. This has given him the opportunity to pursue nationally the inclusion of young emerging leaders from SES in national events and the promotion of women in the SES (his 40/40/20 rule). Mr Hall’s distinguished service was recognised when he was awarded the Emergency Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours list of 2018.