Well-known local volunteer Trevor Milgate is giving up one of the many strings on his bow, by retiring from the State Emergency Service after almost 39 years.
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It was 1976 when Mr Milgate was at his home in Blackwood Avenue and saw a group of SES people assisting others during a flood; he went out to help them and was then asked to join.
Mr Milgate was appointed deputy local controller of the Cessnock SES in 1984, and then to local controller 10 years later, a position he retained until earlier this year.
As controller he coordinated other local emergency services, monitored flood levels, maintained records and organised evacuations and rescues.
Through the SES Mr Milgate also helped to develop the local flood plan in 1995 which identifies the role of local services in the event of a flood.
From rescuing people from floods to getting an old lady’s cat out of the tree, Mr Milgate has done it all between his involvement with SES, the Cessnock District Rescue Squad (VRA) and NSW Rural Fire Service.
He was also a ranger with Cessnock City Council for 20 years, and was eventually allowed to respond to incidents on a pay basis, which he said was great support at the time.
He received the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2004 for his service to the Lower Hunter region, and Emergency Services Medal in 2012.
He has thousands of great memories from his time with SES, but the satisfaction of helping other people has been the greatest.
Particularly memorable moments for Mr Milgate have been the floods of 1990, 1994, 2007 and April this year, where he would be out from 7am to midnight sometimes for two weeks straight, and would often sleep overnight in the rescue squad building.
Mr Milgate joined the VRA in 1984, and is still an active member with no plans of relinquishing his position any time soon.
The SES held a farewell dinner for Mr Milgate on Friday evening at the Australia Hotel.
Bill Thomson is the new local controller for the Cessnock SES.
