Unit Controller Harry Cassilles and Jim Warman received awards for 20 years of service, while Karlene Blacker received an award for 15 years of service. Narelle Saunders who was unable to attend due to illness received an award for 20 years service.

Awards were presented by local Controller Loyde Meehan.

Braidwood SES has been called to help in many natural emergencies during the past 20 years, says Mr Cassilles. He joined the SES as a councillor and member of the Emergency Services Committee, to give him a deeper understanding of who he was representing.

Since then the SES has helped in many disaster situations throughout the state, from Braidwood itself to further afield in Sydney, Ulladulla and Bega.

A lot of the unit’s work involves flood rescue, or assisting in the transport of medical help through flood waters.

The summer Braidwood seemed all but surrounded by bushfire stands out to Mr Cassilles. The unit spent over 30 days assisting firefighters fighting a bushfire in the Deua National Park.

Helping people and meeting other members of the SES are some of the biggest rewards of being involved, Mr Cassilles said.

Despite the dire warnings, the Braidwood SES Unit had a relatively quiet weekend.

Over the Southern Highlands region there were approximately 80 jobs during the danger period, most of which were in Queanbeyan, Yass and Harden, Mr Cassilles said.