A QUIRINDI man has notched up 50 years as a State Emergency Service (SES) volunteer.
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Frank Turner joined the SES as a young teen in Dubbo in 1966.
He would ride his bike from one side of town to the other for training to be a radio operator with the SES once a week.
“I loved it,” he said.
“I knew I never wanted to leave.”
Mr Turner moved to Quirindi in 1986 and was appointed Local Controller of the Liverpool Plains SES unit three years later, a position he still holds today.
He has been heavily involved in developing flood response plans and ways to warn the communities about emergencies across the Liverpool Plains Shire.
Mr Turner was influential in developing procedures for flood boat rescue operations when flood boats were introduced into the NSW SES.
He is one of the most senior volunteers the organisation has had, and was presented with a 50-year Service Award at the NSW SES conference in Inverell on Saturday.
“It’s overwhelming,” Mr Turner said.
“I look back at all the things I have experienced, the people I have met, the SES is a caring bunch of people who care about the community.”
Mr Turner has responded to everything from the Nyngan flood, rescuing 27 people from the river in 1986, to Cyclone Tracy in Darwin in 1975 as part of a relief team.
He cites meeting the Duke of Edinburgh in 1975 as a highlight, but it’s the everyday camaraderie of the volunteers that he loves most.
Mr Turner was a technician at public hospitals for 32 years, before retiring, but he has no plans to hang up his volunteer hat anytime soon.
Mr Turner urged all locals to consider joining the SES.
“Anybody who loves their community can find a role in the SES,” he said.
“Not everybody has to climb on a roof or wade into floodwaters.
“There are lots of challenges, but the overarching thing is job satisfaction.
“We could certainly do with another 10 members.
“I’m not done yet. I have more to do to protect my community.
“The SES is like a big family. I have made some life-long friends.”