Thankyou messages make it all worth it

VETERAN SES volunteer Jason Lawrence was at a friend’s wedding reception when a guest seated across the table issued him a heartfelt thank you.

He had no idea who the woman was but his face was not lost on her.

Mr Lawrence, a Derwent Valley SES volunteer of 30 years estimates he has been deployed to 1500 emergency incidents across the course of his tenure – some more difficult to cope with than others.

“Like with any emergency service organisation in a small regional area, there’s a very high chance you will know the person involved in an incident like a crash or one of the crew members will,” said Mr

Lawrence, who attended the fatal crash scene of his best friend.

“It makes it harder when you get the call out — especially when you’ve got grown up children who have cars, because you want to know that they’re safe first.”

Mr Lawrence is one of 11 Tasmanian emergency service workers recognised for their community service with a Meritorious award as part of today’s Australia Day honours.

The humble Derwent Valley resident while describing the award as a “team effort”, said it was “right up there” alongside his SES 10-year national service medal.

He said his years of work were gratified by letters of appreciation and messages of thanks from grateful community members.

“I was at a wedding one night and the young girl across the table from me said ‘I know you’, to which I replied, ‘no you don’t,” he said.

“She said ‘yes, I was in a Lyell Highway crash and you sat in the car with me and helped me get out’.

“When she described the crash, which happened about 18 months before the wedding, I remembered the incident.

“She was very appreciative of what I did and how I gave up time to help.

“Receiving gratitude like that shows you’re not just doing the work because you have to.”

Mr Lawrence said he would be celebrating today’s honour with an East Coast getaway with his wife.