Stuart has been a key figure in uniting SES units across the Riverland. With the introduction of centralised funding (via the community emergency service levy) and the break from traditional local government ties, he took the opportunity to consolidate the Riverland Units. Promoting a community-wide focus, he encouraged the surrounding Units to form a Unit Managers forum, to discuss issues common across all SES Units, equipment and training standards, creating a forum where volunteers could provide advice to staff and SES management.
This forum has successfully championed many new initiatives within SES and is now the basis for a new state-wide initiative to create volunteer advisory committees at regional levels, to allow greater local ownership and direction of SES between senior volunteers and local staff.
Stuart is a passionate and dedicated volunteer who also gives his time and the benefit of his experience to numerous state committees, including but not limited to, vehicle and equipments committees and a variety of Subject Matter Advisor Groups .
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