Interview with 2024 Volunteer of the Year winner Simon McNamara
Published on 16 July 2024
We caught up with the Simon McNamara, Individual Winner of the City of Ryde 2024 Volunteer Recognition Awards. Simon will celebrate his 30th anniversary of volunteering with the NSW SES Ryde unit this year. He is a Ryde resident who has held various roles at the SES, where he also trains and assesses up to 60 SES volunteers each year.
Congratulations Simon on becoming the 2024 Volunteer Recognition Award winner. How does it feel?
It’s a privilege to have won the award and I really wasn’t expecting it at all. It was Dr Peter Kim, an Eastwood based doctor who nominated me.
Over the past 30 years, you have had many volunteer roles with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) such as Duty Incident Controller, Flood Boat Assessor and currently Rescue Officer. Which position has been the most memorable and why?
Probably the recent floods as Rescue Officer as the Hawkesbury went under and going out to provide supplies to the community. I felt as though we made a difference.
After winning 11 different SES awards, award has been the most memorable and why?
Probably the NSW State Emergency Service Commissioner's Commendation for Service in 2016 as I wasn’t it expecting it. Other important awards were the National SES Medal for 15 years, SES Long Service Award First Clasp for 20 years and the National Medal First Clasp for 25 years.
Given you are on call 24/7 as a plumber and with the SES, is it hard juggling both roles?
Yes, it’s hard juggling both roles some days, especially if the weather turns bad. I have to drop the tools for SES work and it can be challenging sometimes.
As you also assist NSW Police, Fire Rescue NSW, Rural Fire service and other emergency teams, which job has been the toughest?
Assisting NSW Police in searches are the toughest, as you don’t know if it’s going to be a good outcome or not. Sometimes that can be challenging.
Where have the searches been?
In the Ryde LGA, Gosford on the Central Coast and Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The searches are in bushland areas and if the missing person is elderly, we search the urban streets.
You train a lot of up-and-coming SES volunteers. What advice can you provide for a volunteer wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Do your best - if you don’t know how to do something, don’t be ashamed and just ask. We’re all here to learn and we don’t judge each other.
Do you enjoy presenting to the Scouts and Cubs?
Yes, I do. Most of the Scouts and Cubs that I visit are from our surrounding area. I find the kids take a lot out of it and there are plenty of questions. Scouts now have an SES badge, so some of them try to work towards this badge.
You have volunteered for the Granny Smith Festival for 29 years. Which one has been the most memorable and why?
They have all been good! I’m planning on volunteering with the Granny Smith Festival for the 30th year this year.
What do you do in downtime?
I don’t have much downtime, but I like to go fishing and cycling.
Where in the Ryde LGA did you grow up and go to school?
I grew up in Eastwood. I went to St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School in Eastwood and Holy Cross College, Ryde.