Mick Schembri is the newest Unit Controller at the Bacchus Marsh SES, taking the post in February. He spoke to Star Weekly about his connection to the local community.
Tell us a bit about you and what you do?
I’ve worked in the power industry my entire career and have been involved in many large projects across Northern Victoria. In my spare time I like to go camping, hiking, tinkering in my shed, and reading.
Tell us about your work with the SES?
I joined SES when I first moved to Bacchus Marsh around 10 years ago and joined as a way of connecting with the community and meeting new people in town.
For the last six years I held the role of Deputy Controller – Members, which is responsible for recruitment, initial training, and member welfare.
It’s the little things that stand out. From people bringing out lunch and having a chat after we have removed a tree from their roof, to the letters we receive from families of people we have helped, and even occasionally meeting the people themselves weeks or months later. It makes volunteering an extremely rewarding experience.
How did it feel becoming the Unit Controller and what do you hope to do in the role?
It was a great honour to be appointed the Unit Controller, and it makes me feel immensely proud to be able to lead such an amazing group of people.
Over the next few years we are planning on expanding our service footprint within Moorabool Shire and are aiming to open a satellite headquarters in Ballan within two to three years.
This will take some work as we will need to secure land and build a new facility.
Very soon we will be increasing the capability of the unit with the introduction of a second Rescue Truck to the town.
This will ensure our volunteers can continue to provide the best possible service to Bacchus Marsh and surrounds.
Tell us about your connection to Bacchus Marsh?
I moved to Bacchus Marsh for family reasons, and have since gotten married here in town and welcomed a son into the mix. Since moving here, I’ve been very lucky to make a number of lifelong friends from all walks of life.
What do you like about where you live?
It has to be the people in the shire that make it what it is. Between all the community events, the restaurants, coffee shops, and beautiful natural environment we are surrounded with, it is a great place to live.
Where is your favorite local place to spend time?
With a young family we are always spending time in the local parks, at playgrounds, in the local pool, and watching all the trains and trucks pass through town. We spend most of our time on the swings.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you.?
I met my wife through a shared love of playing competitive paintball.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I would like to thank everyone in the town for their ongoing generous support of Bacchus Marsh SES, and especially the families of our members. We couldn’t do what we do without that support at home and from the community.
