Mr Harris started as a radio operator before moving into an operations role and then onto deputy unit controller.

After maintaining that role for quite some time, Mr Harris switched back to an operations role to make way for younger members.  

“An old army mate was running the place and needed a radio operator so I told him I’d do it,” Mr Harris said.

“That was back in February 1994 and I’m still here with the local SES after all these years.” 

Arguably the biggest challenge in Mr Harris’ SES history was the 1997 Thredbo landslide which wiped out two ski lodges and killed 18 people. 

“It was such a difficult operation, it was a 12 hour shift and the whole circumstance was hard,” he said. 

“I did that with Doug Freeman who has been with the SES for longer than I have and we’ve been good mates for a long time.”   

For Mr Harris, being an SES member isn’t about the recognition he recently received for his 20 years of service it’s about giving back to others.

“There’s no doubt in my mind why I do it. It’s giving back to the community, that’s what it’s all about for me,” he said. 

Mr Harris was among other long serving NSW SES volunteers in the Manning, Great Lakes and Gloucester areas who were recognised at an awards ceremony recently. 

A combined total of 290 years of service to the community was recognised at the presentation which also saw the awarding of national service medals and citations for work undertaken by NSW SES members in response to the Queensland Floods and in the clean up after cyclone Yasi. 

NSW SES Mid North Coast Region volunteer John O’Keefe collected his 50 year service award - an achievement obtained by only a select number of people throughout the NSW SES’ 59 year history. 

Members of the Forster-Pacific Palms SES were recognised and included Mitch Denhartog for five years of service, Kevin Sinclair for 10 years of service as well as Nabiac SES members Daniel Gogerley for 15 years service and Doug Freeman for 25 years of service.