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54 members of the ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) have been recognised for exemplary and diligent service in the last 12-months.
The 2025 recipients are:
Chief Officer’s Commendation for Exemplary Service
The Chief Officer’s Commendation for Exemplary service is to recognise service by an individual member of a meritorious nature, or outstanding actions in relation to service duties, administrative leadership or exemplary performance of a specific difficult project or task.
Jacob Heathcote (Majura)
Jack Daniel (Gungahlin)
Kym Schmid (Woden)
David Hatherly (Pialligo)
Lavinia Gracik-Anczewska (Tuggeranong)
Chief Officer’s Commendation for Diligent Service
The Chief Officer’s Commendation for Diligent Service is awarded to one member of each Unit whom the nominator considers having been the most diligent member throughout the year.
Isla Walker (Majura)
Simone De Camillis (Rivers)
Tony Kirk (Gungahlin)
Lachlan Barrett (Tuggeranong)
Matthew Whitting (Woden)
Jonathan Curtis (Pialligo)
Shelly Walsh Belconnen
Chief Officer’s Certificate of Appreciation
Awarded to individuals or organisations including a member’s employers and ACTSES sponsors that are recognised as having made a major contribution to the ACTSES.
Tammy Bennett (Tuggeranong)
Michael Young (Belconnen)
Gustavo (Gus) Sabatino (Woden)
Sue Elsbury (Woden)
Nathan Henderson-Smith (Gungahlin)
Jason Blair (Tuggeranong)
Qantas Airlines
Swissport
ACTSES Unit Commander Commendation
The ACTSES Unit Commander Commendation for Exemplary service is to recognise service by an individual member of a diligent nature, or outstanding actions in relation to service duties, administrative leadership or diligent performance of a specific difficult project or task at Unit level.
Craig Scott (Majura)
Finlay Gordon (Gungahlin)
Michael Young (Belconnen)
Rob Thomas (Woden)
Louis Russell (Tuggeranong)
Spencer Calderwood (Rivers)
Staci Lander (Pialligo)
David Baxter (Woden)
Nathan Booth (Woden)
Antonia (Ankie) Van Haperen (Pialligo)
ACTSES Life Member
The ACTSES Life Membership is awarded to members who have made an outstanding contribution to the serviced over a prolonged period. The criterion for this award is twenty-five years (25) years of diligent or exemplary service.
Victoria Joan Munslow Woden
Malcolm Tompkins Belconnen
Kym Schmid Woden
Adrian Manning Woden
Alex Bondarenko Woden
Chief Officer’s Unit Citation for Exemplary Service
The Chief Officer’s Unit Citation for Exemplary service is awarded to Unit members, groups, or organised units to recognise outstanding service of a meritorious nature, such as group actions in relation to service duties, group work performance, or other outstanding or meritorious service
ACT State Emergency Service (ACT SES) National Disaster Rescue Challenge (NDRC) Team 2024
Anna Willis
Gabrielle Ziersch
Gus Sabatino
Kym Schmid
Mark Rattigan
Melissa Buick
Sean Walton
Stefan Buick
Tim Baker
Emma Hayes
Jeremy Black
Tristan Peemoeller
Emma Hope
Maddie Gardner
Alex Mason
ACTSESVA Volunteer of the Year Award
This award recognises a dedicated ACT State Emergency Service volunteer who has made an exemplary contribution to the service and community, specifically in the last 12 months.
Jeremy Black (Gungahlin)
ACTSESVA Youth Achievement Award
Awarded to a 16–30-year-old member who has demonstrated the highest commitment to learning and ACTSES activities during the year. The recipient must be an active member of ACTSES.
Spencer Calderwood (Rivers)
Emma Hayes (Tuggeranong)
Tony Graham Leadership and Values Award
The criterion for this award is ‘in honour of ongoing professional commitment to ACTSES, and demonstration of leadership and values that align with the ACTSES’.
Terry Senior (Rivers)
Congratulations to all the deserving recipients!
