‘You’re seeing people going through their hardest days’: Victorian hero reflects on 50 years with SES

Brett Neve has supported Victorians through their “hardest days” with the State Emergency Service ever since it was founded in 1975. Now, the veteran has a warning for the state’s regions.

SES Veteran Brett Neve has served the organisation for the entirety of its 50 year history. Picture: Supplied

As the Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) celebrates its 50th anniversary, emergency services veteran Brett Neve has issued a warning to regional areas while shedding light on how the organisation is evolving.

Mr Neve is one of 16 current members who have served in the organisation since it was founded in 1975.

Asked what had changed, he said that while there was “newer technology” and “more women” in the organisation, one aspect remained the same.

“You’re seeing people going through their hardest days,” he said.

With the SES tasked with rescuing Victorians from emergencies such as bushfires, floods and earthquakes, it’s not hard to see why that’s the case.

“It is a stressful environment because you’re in a time-critical situation – you’ve only got a certain amount of time to get someone out,” Mr Neve said.

“Sometimes you win, you get them out and they’re on their way. Sometimes you lose and the person is deceased.”

Brett Neve is encouraging more Victorians to join the SES. Picture: Supplied

As for the next 50 years, Mr Neve said new technologies would continue driving the most significant changes.

“We’ll probably be in electric vehicles,” he said.

In the past year alone, Victorian SES volunteers responded to more than 40,000 requests for assistance.

That figure is made even more remarkable by the fact that the organisation is staffed largely by volunteers.

Mr Neve said he wanted readers to know that while his crew in Frankston were “doing all right”, there were others, especially in the regions, that were struggling to attract those volunteers.

“There’s a lot of older members but not a lot of new people coming through because of people moving away from country,” he said.

“So there’s a lot of change to happen there – hopefully changes that will get more people interested in it.”