Banyule Citizen of the Year award for Northcote SES member Ray Dark

Watsonia North’s Ray Dark has seen it all in the 27 years since he joined the SES. And the 71-year-old has been rewarded by being named the 2018 Banyule Citizen of the Year.

Banyule citizen of the year Ray Dark with Mayor Mark Di Pasquale.

It’s been 27 years since Watsonia North’s Ray Dark joined the VicSES Northcote unit, and in that time he has seen it all.

He has helped with high-profile search operations, responded to some of Victoria’s most ferocious weather events and offered support to firefighters during the Black Saturday fires.

Once, during the 1990s, he helped save a drowning St Bernard that had run into trouble in Merri Creek — a feat which took half a dozen SES volunteers and a blanket lift to get the cumbersome dog safely out.

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But it’s not just the “big” events that make Mr Dark’s experience with VicSES worthwhile — it’s the run-of-the-mill call-outs that still keep him wanting more after all these years.

In recognition of Mr Dark’s efforts, the 71-year-old was named the 2018 Banyule Citizen of the Year on Saturday.

Mr Dark said he was “embarrassed” to win the award.

“I’m sure there are more deserving people than me,” he said.

Mr Dark was working for a bank in 1991 when a colleague suggested he join the SES.

“In the early days, all we had was a piece of string and an axe,” Mr Dark said, with a laugh.

“We borrowed boots from wherever we could, our overalls were handed in by the previous people and we used second-hand goodies. We scrounged and did whatever we could with whatever gear (we had).”

Since then, Mr Dark has held various positions, including unit officer, unit deputy controller and unit duty officer.

He is one of the longest-serving members at the Northcote unit and in the VicSES Central Region, and has trained many new members, helping to build the membership.

Long-term Northcote SES member Shane Frost said Mr Dark was a “tremendous asset” to the unit and the Banyule community.

“(He makes) himself available to assist in times of emergency at any time of the night and day, and is integral in the training of existing and new members,” Mr Frost said.

Banyule Mayor Mark Di Pasquale said the award recognised outstanding contributions.

“This award honours and celebrates the achievements of ordinary people who do extraordinary things for our community, and Ray is certainly deserving of such an award,” Cr Di Pasquale said.

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