After dedicating more than 60 years to serving the community, Jim Pullin has been honoured for his extraordinary contributions at the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Metro Awards.
Among the NSW SES Metro Zone’s longest-serving members, Mr Pullin joined the Service in 1961 in the wake of devastating floods across the state.
At just 16 years old, his first tasks were to clean the blackboards at State Headquarters and provide clerical support. But it wasn’t long before Mr Pullin built a career at the SES, advancing through various staff positions including planning, training and head of operations.
“Over the past six decades, I’ve served under every Director General and Commissioner in the service,” Mr Pullin said.
“I’ve worked with people from multiple walks of life and made lifelong friendships. It’s this companionship that keeps you coming back.”
In 1982, Mr Pullin moved to Gymea and joined the NSW SES Sutherland Unit, where he later served as Deputy Unit Commander and Unit Commander. Now, at 80 years old, he still attends the Unit weekly to provide support and training.
Mr Pullin has been there to help his community through the largest disasters including the 1994 Sutherland Shire Bushfires, 1999 Sydney Hailstorm, 2003 Waterfall Train Derailment and the 2022 East Coast Low Floods. He was also deployed out of area to support during times of need, including the Thredbo Landslide, Newcastle Earthquake and Queensland Floods.
But Mr Pullin said a real highlight was helping during the 2000 Olympics.
“We were supporting the NSW Police, and we got to meet people from all around the world,” Mr Pullin said. “We also volunteered during the Pope’s visit, which was really memorable.”
Mr Pullin was awarded his 60 Years Long Service at a special ceremony over the weekend, along with 54 other volunteers from across the NSW SES Metro Zone who collectively received 69 awards, medals and clasps.
NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM said the long-serving award recipients tallied up an incredible 900 years of service to the communities of Sydney.
“The unparalleled commitment of these volunteers to the SES and the broader community is nothing short of extraordinary,” Commissioner Wassing said.
“The NSW SES is built on dedicated members like Jim, who is a true leader and a rock to other volunteers in his community.
“And what a fitting time to receive this 60-year accolade, as our Service celebrates its 70th anniversary.
“Jim has almost been here since the very beginning, and he continues to inspire others with his leadership, resilience and generosity today.”
When reflecting on the Service’s 70th anniversary, Mr Pullin said he is proud of how far the NSW SES has come.
“My two boys also joined the NSW SES before they went on to work in other parts of Australia. It is quite inspiring to see how the youngsters who join the SES go on to achieve such wonderful things in life,” he said.
NSW SES Metro Zone 2025 Award recipients:
| National Medal |
NM Clasp 3 NM Clasp 2 NM Clasp 1 National Medal | James Stewart Phillip Hickman PS Graham Cleary Connor Tumulty Andrew Bokor PS Timothy Randell Peter Simpson Keiran Gibson Lars Nilsson PS Dugald Parker Steven Rutten PS Thais Turner PS John Brock Darren Hannah Mary McNally Katie Moulton Salvatore Pane Jeremy Sharp Warren Smith Kirsten Symington | Blacktown Unit The Hills Unit The Hills Unit Ku-ring-gai Unit Ashfield-Leichhardt Unit The Hills Unit Campbelltown Unit Ryde Unit Warringah-Pittwater Unit Blacktown Unit Kogarah Unit Bush Search and Rescue Unit Waverley Woollahra Unit Willoughby-Lane Cove Unit Ryde Unit Ashfield-Leichhardt Unit Parramatta Unit Burwood Unit Hunters Hill Unit Blacktown Unit |
| Life Member |
| Life Member Award – Awarded to members who have made an outstanding contribution to the NSW SES over a prolonged period | Juliana (Kathy) Garancsi Richard Shoemark James Stewart | Auburn Unit Campbelltown Unit Blacktown Unit |
| Commissioner’s Unit Citation |
| For the rescue of a flood victim at McGrath's Hill on 6 April 2024 | Elias Habib Brendan Hooper Tanju Olcer Emma Plunkett Rahim Zaidi | Bankstown Unit Ku-ring-gai Unit Auburn Unit Bankstown Unit Randwick Unit |
| Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation |
| For assistance provided to the community during the severe Sydney weather event on 9 February 2023 | Antwan Antoniou Andre Issa | Kogarah Unit Kogarah Unit |
| NSW SES 60 Years Long Service |
| | James Pullin | Sutherland Unit |
| NSW SES 55 Years Long Service |
| | Peter Lalor | Metro Award & Ceremonial Capability Unit |
| NSW SES 50 Years Long Service |
| | Robert (Bob) Corbett | Hornsby Unit |
| NSW SES 45 Years Long Service |
| | James Stewart | Blacktown Unit |
| NSW SES 40 Years Long Service |
| | Alan Rollinson | Metro Capability West Unit |
| NSW SES 35 Years Long Service |
| | Connor Tumulty | Ku-ring-gai Unit |
| NSW SES 30 Years Long Service |
| | Jean Hammond Simon McNamara Hannah Musgrove Peter Nash | Campbelltown Unit Ryde Unit Blue Mountains West Unit Campbelltown Unit |
| NSW SES 25 Years Long Service |
| | Allison Flaxman Keiran Gibson Theodore Kitsoukilias Timothy Randall Raymond Robison Peter Simpson | Metro Staff Ryde Unit Hurstville Unit The Hills Unit The Hills Unit Campbelltown Unit |
| NSW SES 20 Years Long Service |
| | Frank Battam Timothy Battam Bridget Canham Garry Edwards Dianne Gibson James Heffernan Kellie Jarvis John Jones David Ton | Camden Unit Camden Unit Marrickville Unit North Sydney Unit Ryde Unit Liverpool Unit Mount Druitt Unit Liverpool Unit Fairfield Unit |
| NSW SES 15 Years Long Service |
| | Mary McNally Jeremy Sharp Warren Smith Kirsten Symington Katie Moulton Salvatore Pane | Ashfield-Leichhardt Unit Hunters Hill Unit Ryde Unit Blacktown Unit Parramatta Unit Burwood Unit |
| NSW SES 10 Years Long Service |
| | Simon Hardstaff Scott Lloyd Amelia Lockman Amy Mawn Derek Read | Hornsby Unit Parramatta Unit Mount Druitt Unit Hornsby Unit Liverpool Unit |
Photo caption: NSW Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP, NSW SES Member Jim Pullin and NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM at Metro Awards Ceremony on Saturday 10 May.
Photo caption: NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone, Long Service recipients and NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing AFSM at Metro Awards Ceremony on Saturday 10 May.
Media enquiries:
NSW SES Metro Media Officer Kiara Magnussen on 0447 699 487