11/09/2026 – Help us promote YOUR achievements!
11/09/2026
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The SES family is saddened to learn of the recent passing of George Sulc, a former WA SES staff member who dedicated 15 years of service before retiring in 1999. George was well known and highly respected throughout the SES community of his era, working alongside volunteers and staff during a period of significant growth and development for the State Emergency Service in Western Australia.
Many members of the SES family will remember his commitment, friendship, and support over many years. On behalf of the SES Volunteers Association of WA, we extend our sincere condolences to George’s family, friends, and former colleagues. His contribution to the SES community will be remembered with gratitude and respect.
Rest In Peace George.
The Association President is writing to all SES units in WA seeking feedback and recommendations regarding the most appropriate way to pursue formal recognition for eligible volunteers, emergency services personnel and support agency personnel who responded to Tropical Cyclone Seroja in April 2021.
Since 2022, SESVA has undertaken several initiatives to secure formal recognition for those who participated in the Tropical Cyclone Seroja response.
DFES supported SESVA’s request for National Emergency Medal recognition by preparing a submission for TC Seroja to be declared a national emergency event. The National Committee did not approve the submission meaning the awarding of the National Emergency Medal is not permitted.
A submission by the SESVA for the awarding of a WA Premier’s Citation was not supported by both DFES and the WA State Government.
SES Unit feedback
The SESVA is seeking feedback from WA SES Units – what further actions could be taken to allow for the acknowledgment of the outstanding commitment delivered to Western Australian communities in times of need?
SES volunteers deserve to be recognised.
The response to Tropical Cyclone Seroja involved thousands of hours of service by volunteers, emergency services personnel and support agencies under challenging circumstances. The SESVA believes it is important that the contribution of these individuals continues to be appropriately recognised and recorded.
How to proceed?
SES units are urged to respond to the letter when received so the WA SESVA can consider how to proceed, if that is what member units want.
The Minister for Emergency Services has established committees to provide advice and assistance to the Minister or the Fire and Emergency Services (FES) Commissioner or both on matters relevant to the operation or administration of the emergency services Acts (FES Act s.24).
The SES Volunteers Association of WA Inc (SESVA) is the prescribed association that represents the SES units in Western Australia
For the SESVA to perform its functions, it is funded by way of a grant from DFES on terms set out in the Grant Agreement. The Grant Agreement requires SESVA to achieve the following:
• Effective support to SES units
• Effective communications with volunteers
• Cooperate in stakeholder meetings
• Support the conduct of DFES-run events and attend unit events if invited
So that the Minister and FES Commissioner may receive relevant information and advice from SES volunteers, the SESVA executive and committee members will communicate with SES units on a regular and frequent basis.
A common criticism is that the SESVA doesn’t do anything for volunteers or DFES. This criticism may be founded on misunderstandings about what the SESVA can and cannot do. The SESVA is not about advising DFES on what DFES may want to hear; the SESVA is a conduit through which volunteers can express themselves by means of an alternative
to the DFES chain of command.
Likewise, communication messages to SES volunteers through the SESVA may not be what SES volunteers want to hear. Wherever possible, SESVA will respectfully advocate on behalf of SES units, even when that advocacy is not what DFES wants to hear. Recent examples of this include the SESVA position papers on consolidation of emergency
services legislation, SES helping address climate adaptation, workplace health and safety and flood boat operator qualifications. Likewise, DFES proactively engages and consults with SESVA on a wide range of matters that affect SES volunteers.
SESVA executive and committee members strive to be respectful, honest and frank. Through clear and unambiguous communication, the SESVA endeavours to advocate for SES volunteers in WA.
For information on the advocacy of SESVA, see our website at www.ses-wa.asn.au/news-summary.
SES units and volunteers are welcome to contact the SESVA direct on 0499 619 287.
Peter Keillor Award State Emergency Service Team Achievement Award State Emergency Service Young Person of the Year Award