LOCAL heroes who rush toward danger while others take cover have been honoured at the 2026 Redlands Coast Australia Day Awards, with six volunteers from the Redland City SES Unit recognised for service that has helped keep the community safe through some of its toughest moments.
The awards come after a punishing year for local crews, including the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and a major hailstorm that battered Redland in November, generating an extraordinary surge in emergency call-outs.
Redland City Mayor and Local Disaster Management Group chair Jos Mitchell said the honours reflected the critical role SES volunteers play when disasters strike.
“Between Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the major hailstorm that affected Redland in November last year, our crews responded to more than 1900 calls for assistance,” the Mayor said.
“As well as providing on-the-ground support during disaster events – both here and in other regions – our SES crews play a key role in helping the community to prepare for severe weather.”
She said the six recipients had gone above and beyond in their service to the community.
“The six members acknowledged at the Australia Day Awards have performed exceptional work above and beyond the call of duty and are richly deserving of the recognition,” she said.
“We are very privileged to have these individuals as members of our community and I thank them for their tireless and dedicated service.”
Among those recognised was Amy Klanke, praised for her outstanding work coordinating the Redland City Unit’s recruitment program and maintaining strong communication with new recruits, and Anne-Marie Bennett, acknowledged for her ongoing dedication to delivering high-quality first aid training and supporting the development of SES volunteers.
Daniel Tuckwood was honoured for his service during disasters, particularly throughout Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and for more than a decade of strong leadership as Group Leader of the Redland Bay SES Group, while Elizabeth Harris was recognised for her dedicated service and mentorship, supporting both the community and fellow volunteers in the field and in incident management roles.
Rob Hurren received an award for his commitment to serving the Russell Island community through his volunteer work with the SES, and Sarah Mulholland was recognised for her dedication to the welfare of the unit and her willingness to step into senior roles whenever needed.
Together, the six volunteers represent hundreds of hours of unpaid service, countless late-night call-outs and a quiet commitment to helping neighbours in their darkest hours — the kind of effort that rarely makes headlines, but keeps communities standing when disaster hits.
