VICSES San Remo Unit Controller named Bass Coast Community Leader

Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) San Remo Unit Controller, Mandy Chancellor, has been honoured and acknowledged for her leadership qualities in the community, having recently been awarded the distinguished Bass Coast Shire Council’s 2024 Community Leader Award.

Now in her second year as the controller of the San Remo unit having moved to the coastal town nine years ago, Mandy joined the service in August 2019 and her love and commitment for VICSES has since become well known among fellow volunteers and the community.

At a ceremony last month, Mandy was presented with the award in front her Bass Coast community as she thanked VICSES for the training and the opportunities provided to her, in order for her to further develop and excel her skills in the emergency management space.

Initially joining the VICSES San Remo Unit to support and strengthen her connection to the community while also working in Wonthaggi for Victoria Police in administration, Mandy took over the reins as Unit Controller in March 2023, quickly placing a priority on not only leadership development within her unit, but also in developing relationships with local stakeholders and making the unit more accessible for both young and older members of the community.

Mandy has placed a priority on growing awareness in the local community of VICSES’ role and responsibilities, especially during severe weather events and flooding, as well as increasing the unit’s community engagement focus through attending meetings and social events like school fetes, markets, and open days.  

Following a storm cell which swept through San Remo’s response zone in February of this year, Mandy and her unit initiated a control centre from San Remo which managed more than 30 incoming requests for assistance (RFAs) over a two- day period, as trees were toppled and buildings damaged throughout the Bass Coast area.  

The February storm response saw VICSES San Remo Unit volunteers clear more RFAs than they had in the preceding four months, allowing for greater collaboration for any future similar events alongside shire personnel, contractors and emergency service partners including the Country Fire Authority (CFA), Victoria Police and our VICSES Phillip Island Unit. 

Whilst committed to attracting all members of the community to join VICSES, Mandy has a great focus on developing young adults within the unit and utilising the experiences of older members to benefit the younger members.

The unit has also been bolstered by the addition of dual-volunteers from nearby emergency service agencies, including Life Saving Victoria and the CFA, which has further developed inter-agency relations in the local area.

In an excerpt issued by Bass Coast Shire Council, Mandy was lauded for “working and helping people, often in very trying conditions, while the rest of us sleep”.

“Everyone who meets Mandy talks about her palpable passion and her ability to build up the team around her, and her focus on fostering and developing younger members of the unit.”

If you want to be a part of the action, learn new skills and serve your community, visit ses.vic.gov.au/volunteer.

Quotes attributable to VICSES San Remo Unit Controller, Mandy Chancellor

“Knowing the vital role of the VICSES San Remo Unit within the Bass Coast, I’ve relished the opportunity to become a leader in the local area and develop important partnerships and relationships with government and other stakeholders.

“We don’t volunteer in the hope of winning awards, but it is always nice to have the work we put into the community acknowledged – I am looking forward to continuing to work with our local community in the hopes of further fostering a resilient community.”