CORIO, VIC. — Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) Corio Unit volunteers have marked half a century of exceptional service to their communities, holding a celebratory gala dinner recently to reflect on and acknowledge members’ commitment to Greater Geelong.
Held at Lara Sporting Club on the evening of October 24, the event brought former members, local emergency service representatives and community partners together with the unit’s current cohort of more than 30 volunteers to acknowledge VICSES Corio Unit’s rich service history and honour the remarkable dedication of volunteers dating back to the late 1970s.
“VICSES Corio Unit volunteers take great pride in their service to the community so it was fantastic to be able to reflect on and celebrate those achievements while looking forward to what the future holds for the unit,” Corio Unit Controller, Russell Taylor, said.
Also in attendance were VICSES Chief Officer Operations Alistair Drayton, VICSES Deputy Chief Officer Greg Swindells and VICSES Assistant Chief Officer Nick Cowham, each of who was on hand to present service medals to members for extended or distinguished service.
A trio of volunteers were recognised for five years of service, with former junior member Sebastian, former Camperdown Unit volunteer Erin and valued operational member Stephen each awarded a pin for their dedicated service.
Nineteen-year veteran volunteer Justin was awarded a National Medal acknowledging 15 years of diligent service, an honour which adds to a storied volunteer career which includes the rare Commendation for Service award received for his role in the dynamic and life-saving rescue of a teen trapped in a flooded stormwater drain near Altona Meadows in 2022.
The ceremony was rounded out by the presentation of the NSW Premier’s Flood Emergency Citation and accompanying pin to Justin and colleagues Simon, Justin and Brad in recognition of each member’s remarkable service on deployments to flood-stricken New South Wales between 2022 and 2023, aiding the local volunteer response during a series of protracted emergencies.
VICSES Corio Unit also commissioned a ‘challenge coin’ in honour of the unit’s golden anniversary, presenting the coin to attendees who have shown exceptional commitment to the unit through service, donations and other behind-the-scenes support.
The unit has called its current Lovely Banks facility home since the early 1990s when, after a period stationed at North Geelong’s historic Osborne House, the unit uprooted to a new headquarters attached to the City of Greater Geelong’s northern operations depot. A brand-new headquarters for the unit is expected to be delivered in the coming years.
“To celebrate 50 years of service to their community is an incredible achievement for VICSES Corio Unit and it was pleasing to see how much it meant to all in attendance,” Chief Officer Operations, Alistair Drayton, said.
Responsible for an area stretching from Geelong’s northern suburbs and Lara to Little River, VICSES Corio Unit volunteers boast a broad emergency response skill set.
In 2025/26, unit volunteers were called to more than 250 incidents, including more than 120 related to storms, 70 road crash rescue incidents and almost 20 in aid of police and ambulance, often in support of operations at isolated locations such as the You Yangs Regional Park.
