Presentation of Annual HBF SES Awards - Ron Panting of Albany

14/11/99
A South Coast man, who has spent the last 15 years educating and encouraging young people to join the State Emergency Service, was last night rewarded for his dedication.
Emergency Services Minister Kevin Prince presented the prestigious Peter Keillor Award to Mr Ron Panting, of Albany, at the Annual HBF SES Awards.
"Ron has devoted 15 years of his own personal time to build the resources and capabilities of the Albany SES Unit as the local unit manager," Mr Prince said.
"Under Ron's guidance, the Albany SES Unit has grown in strength from a membership of 15 to its current membership of 76 volunteers. Ron has made a significant contribution to the success of the local unit and he is the perfect example of the calibre of dedicated volunteers the SES attracts State-wide."
The Peter Keillor Award is presented to an outstanding SES volunteer who has been nominated by his or her peers for their excellence, achievement and enthusiasm.
The award is named after Peter Keillor, a respected and well known volunteer who dedicated many years of service to the Murray SES Unit.
"The nominees each year are outstanding and it is a difficult decision to choose just one," Mr Prince said.
"This year we had three nominees, Ron Panting from Albany, Stephen Saunders from Geraldton and Anthony Box from Nannup.
"Both Stephen and Anthony can also be very proud of their nominations as it is a mark of the high esteem their peers have for them."
The Minister said the three nominees were shining examples of the thousands of SES volunteers throughout the State who devoted their own personal time to helping their communities, prepare and respond to natural and man-made disasters.
"Ron has spent many hours visiting local high schools, talking to students and introducing them to the SES," he said.
"For his efforts, Ron now has a large cadet contingent and an average of 55 volunteers taking part in training sessions every second Thursday."
Mr Panting is well known and respected throughout the SES for his commitment and dedication to young people and his excellent financial management.
"Ron's devotion to the SES is evident in the enthusiastic way he handles all aspects of the unit's management and his dedication to volunteers throughout the organisation is highly regarded through his representation of the Great-Southern Region on the SES consultative committee."
The SES is an operational division of the Fire & Emergency Services Authority (FESA).
Media Contact: Kirsten Stoney 9220 5000
or Jo Ferrie (SES) 9323 9549.