By Oscar Parry
Long-time Bacchus Marsh resident Wayne Barnes has been awarded an Emergency Services Medal for his outstanding service as an emergency responder and crew leader, including with the local SES unit.
A dedicated and active volunteer with the Bacchus Marsh SES unit since 2001, Mr Barnes has extensive skills and experience in areas such as road crash rescue, storm and flood response, and search and rescue.
Mr Barnes was recognised in the King’s Birthday honours for his ability to make quick actions and be an exceptional leader in critical incidents – including as one of the first responders to the May 2023 Exford bus crash where he provided life-saving first aid.
It also recognises that as a former intensive care paramedic with Ambulance Victoria, Mr Barnes was able to leverage this medical experience and leadership skills to mentor and support volunteers across the service, helping other members develop skills, gain confidence in their abilities, and reach their full potential.
Mr Barnes said receiving the award was a “total surprise.”
“I still don’t know who nominated me! But obviously, it’s appreciated … it’s also due recognition of many other volunteers who respond in a similar manner and have done also for many years,” Mr Barnes said.
“I don’t see it as a personal accolade, but it’s also due to the support of a wife and family that enables me to be a volunteer.”
Mr Barnes has contributed to raising the profile of VICSES through road rescue challenges, training and participating in these competitions and representing the emergency service on a state, national, and international stage.
Mr Barnes was offered the role of an assessor in these challenges, then leading him to join a rescue training team in West Africa in the early 2000s and participating in the competitions for more than a decade, providing expert guidance and coaching to road crash rescue teams from across Australasia.
Retiring from Ambulance Victoria in 2016, he was then a volunteer with Australian Volunteers International and was involved in training paramedic students in Vanuatu, bringing a large cache of rescue equipment for natural disasters and road accidents.
Mr Barnes said remaining calm in high-pressure situations is something that he has developed over a long period of time, and that if you “train in an authentic manner and stretch yourself, then you’re better prepared obviously for the real event”.
He said he encourages others to contribute their talents and experiences to volunteer organisations.
