By KATH GANNAWAY
“APPARENTLY, I’m odd,” says Marysville SES Controller Jo Hunter when asked about her long history of volunteering.
Jo, 27, and the second youngest SES controller in Victoria, was awarded the Saward Dawson Community Service and Volunteering Award at the inaugural Victorian Young Achiever Awards presented at Edihad Stadium on 12 April.
She was one of six young people recognised for outstanding contributions in areas including leadership and innovation, community service, sport, small business and science and technology.
“I just don’t see what I do as strange or unusual … I’ve done it since I was a teenager,” she said in response to the nomination by Marysville police Sergeant Paul Gregory in the community service and leadership categories.
SES North East regional manager Keith O’Brien congratulated Jo on the award, saying she was a valuable leader.
“She is a young member of the community who was instrumental as one of our leaders during the Black Saturday bushfires and has since taken on the leadership of our unit,” he said.
Jo said she hadn’t seen the nomination, but confided she had entertained the idea of not going along to the presentation.
“It is certainly an honour, but it can be a bit strange to be singled out when you work in a unit with a lot of people who all put in just as much effort and time as you do,” she said.
“The nice thing is that it (the nomination) came from someone whose work I respect and that carried a lot of weight for me,” she said.
Jo joined the SES at 18 and at 23 was in a leadership role as deputy controller on Black Saturday.
“I have observed her as the operational commander of the unit, making decisions during emergency response call-outs for road accident rescues, storm and flood response, search and rescue operations, and supporting various community events,” Sgt Gregory said.
He said her leadership and dedication stood out during and after Black Saturday and while her courage and leadership should be seen as part of a team effort, at barely 23, she willingly put her entire future on the line to save others.
He said she delayed her own evacuation and rounded up the tail of the convoy, evacuating the town.
As someone who was so much a part of the community, she provided assistance to the recovery units, gave evidence at the Bushfire Royal Commission as the world’s media watched, and has contributed throughout the rebuilding of Marysville.
“The devastation, loss and trauma associated with the disaster was such that many experienced and strong among the community found it difficult to continue functioning during the aftermath,” Sgt Gregory said.
“If her actions on the day were not enough, it was her efforts in the period following that were remarkable,” he said, adding she played a pivotal role as a contact for everyone from emergency service organisations to government MPs and interstate volunteers.
She has also played a co-ordination role for the SES in other emergencies around the state since.
Sgt Gregory’s observations of maturity, confidence, ability to inspire others, and as a role model to other young people, sit a little uncomfortably, but as always, she is prepared to make the most of them.
“I suppose a lot of it is confidence, and in the work I do you, when you’re wearing overalls and have people looking to you, you have to act confidently even when you’re not,” she said.
“I’ve been lucky to be around some pretty strong characters, so I’ve picked up that confidence.
And, as a role model? “I hope that what I’m doing might encourage more people to get into volunteering. A lot of people wait until their focus changes later in life, but I’m all for doing things when you’re young and able.”
She said her colleagues had said all the right things about the award.
“No-one has said ‘that’s a joke’ as yet. So that’s a start”, she says with a laugh.
