Karen is in for the long haul

By Ed Merrison
IF THERE are two things the community should know about Karen Picone, they are her love of a challenge and her desire to help people.
And that is why it makes reassuring sense to learn that she has become the new controller of Healesville SES.
Ms Picone was officially appointed about a month ago, following consultation between the SES regional manager, director of operations and the council.
“I’m very happy and extremely proud. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” she said.
“It means I’m in charge of the overall running of the unit in consultation with the deputy controllers. But basically the buck stops with me.”
Ms Picone came to the Yarra Valley from East Doncaster nine years ago after her eldest child, Nathaniel, died of leukaemia.
Healesville was chosen as the place to provide a different, healthier environment for the family.
Once here she started helping out with SES fundraising when her husband, Keith, joined the service.
“I started helping with the finances and doing the books and just progressed further in,” she said.
She eventually became a volunteer five years ago and is now pleased to head up an operation that has become like a family.
“I just like helping the community and helping people when they’re in need. That’s what we do,” she said.
“It’s a very close unit. Everyone looks out for everyone else and everyone in the unit has been so supportive of me taking on the role.”
Ms Picone’s eldest daughter, 24-year-old Cassie Collins, is also a member of the SES, while her 16-year-old daughter, Chantelle, is thinking about joining.
Mr Picone is still a volunteer and also works alongside his wife in her bitumen haulage company.
The firm, Gornroamin – so called because “when it’s gone roaming I’m making money”, Ms Picone explained – has a staff of five, and carts bitumen as far as Brisbane.
“As far as I know I’m the only female in Australia who runs her own bitumen cartage company.
“No, that doesn’t put me off one bit,” she said.
Before she moved into bitumen Ms Picone ran kitchens, working as a chef for 20 years.
She still lists cooking, along with gardening, as a favourite pastime but once again it was the whiff of a challenge that drew her into the profession.
“I’d always loved cooking, and the fact that there weren’t many women doing it made it a challenge,” she said.
Ms Picone, who has also been a volunteer driver for Healesville Interchurch Community Care Inc (HICCI) for the past five years, has embarked on the tough task of building a new two-storey mud brick home in Healesville, a place she quickly learned to love after moving there.
“It’s got a beautiful community spirit and the people are friendly and helpful,” she said. “It’s a great place to be – I definitely won’t be moving.” And those words will come as some comfort to the many who rely on Ms Picone’s strength and generosity of spirit.