SES Hobsons Bay Unit

Congratulations to our Deputy Controller - Members, Maz for completing the Ready2Lead program in 2026. Over the last 3 months, Maz has been spending Wednesday nights and a couple of Saturday’s building knowledge on leadership, personality profiling, presenting for impact and many other topics. We are so proud of Maz. Maz’s growth during this journey has been outstanding and was also promoted to Deputy Controller at the end of the program. Thank you to Life Saving Victoria for this incredible program and Victoria State Emergency Service for the sponsorship.

Our volunteers attended the Hobsons Bay City Council 2026 Community Recognition Awards ceremony today! A massive congratulations to all the category winners and fellow nominees who make Hobsons Bay such a supportive place to live.

We are especially proud of our two nominations today:
👉 Our Entire Unit was nominated for the Helping Others Award. From responding to over 300 calls for assistance to running storm-readiness workshops, our volunteers consistently put community safety and care first.

👉 Mel Smith (Unit Controller) was nominated for the Community Leader Award. Mel’s dedication to keeping our unit response-ready 24/7, her compassionate leadership, and her advocacy for the 'Women in Rescue' program inspire us every day.

Whether we are clearing roads after a midnight storm or training on a Monday night, we do it for the love of our community. Thank you to everyone who supports us, and congratulations again to all of today's well-deserved recipients! 🧡🏆

Another successful animal rescue - swipe for the before! This one took great teamwork to rescue this cat with 9 lives!

📰 In the News: "HQ won't do"

A big thank you to the Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay Star Weekly for highlighting the critical facility bottlenecks facing our unit.

We handle 300+ emergencies a year, but our 40-year-old HQ means our primary rescue truck is literally "locked out" because it won't fit inside.

We are calling on the State Government to partner with VICSES, secure suitable land, and fund a modern, fit-for-purpose Headquarters.

👇 Read the full story and please hit SHARE to support our volunteers:
https://maribyrnonghobsonsbay.starweekly.com.au/news/new-ses-headquarters-an-emergency/

Melissa Horne MP Mathew Hilakari MP Vicki Ward MP for Eltham Gill Gannon - The West Party for Williamstown Victoria State Emergency Service

Coming up this Wednesday is WOW DAY! Wear orange Wednesday is a day to thank your local SES crews for all they do to support our communities! 🥰

This May we have a token bucket at our local in Altona North! Please be sure to show us some support when you get your next burger 🍔

A huge thank you to The Hon. Melissa Horne MP, for taking the time to visit our Hobsons Bay Unit headquarters last week.

We had a very positive and productive conversation about the future of our vital emergency service. We spoke about the unique operational challenges our 40+ year old facility faces, and our volunteers shared their firsthand experiences of protecting the West.

As our unit looks to the future, we are seeking a State Government budget commitment to fund the build of a modern, fit-for-purpose Headquarters for Hobsons Bay. We are eager to work in partnership with Hobsons Bay City Council, State Government, and VICSES staff to secure suitable land to keep our growing community safe.

Our cramped facility - where our primary rescue truck is literally "locked out" because it no longer fits - is a physical barrier we can no longer ignore.

🧡 Stay tuned as we continue our campaign for a safer Hobsons Bay.

Today’s rescue: Successful removal of some kittens from a drain! 🐱

Today is Neighbour Day an annual initiative that encourages the community to connect with, thanks and build better relationships with their neighbours to foster a safe, well connected community! 👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏽🤝🏼