By Cameron Weston
AFTER more than a decade in charge, Hobsons Bay City councillor Leigh Hardinge is stepping down from the helm of the Altona State Emergency Service unit.
Craig McCallum, whom Cr Hardinge described as his “lieutenant”, will take over the position of unit controller.
Mr McCallum, who is also a foundation member at Altona SES, said he was pleased to be taking over a tight ship.
“It’s a great team at Altona. If you haven’t got the back-up, the team will fall apart.
“Hopefully I can fulfil my duties and keep the unit going strong.”
Cr Hardinge, who will now become the unit’s community liaison officer, said he was pleased to be able to step down with the unit in such good shape.
“When I took over as controller, it was a pretty low (support) base.
“We slowly built up our numbers, our equipment and our finances. Now, we’re in a very healthy state,” he said.
He said people stood to gain a lot by volunteering for the SES including invaluable first aid, rescue and communications skills.
SES members are deservedly held in extremely high regard in the community, Cr Hardinge said.
The Altona SES is active even when there is no emergency – they looked after the floating fish on the Yarra River during the Commonwealth Games.
They also sent two task forces to the Sydney hail storms in 1999 and supported the CFA during the bushfires in north eastern Victoria last summer.
Cr Hardinge, a foundation member of the unit in 1983, said he plans to remain active in the unit, continuing the 23-year association that has seen him hold the post of deputy controller for three years and unit controller for the past 16 years.
Cr Hardinge said there were many positive moments from his decades with the SES but one thing stood out.
“The goodwill of the members. That’s the glue that holds the whole thing together,” he said.
