Tara Murray
New Brimbank SES unit controller Bernie Thatcher never thought she would become a controller when she first started out with the service 12 years ago.
Ms Thatcher has worked her way through the ranks, and was last week named the new unit controller.
She had been a deputy controller for a number of years.
“I never thought about it,” she said of becoming controller.
“I wanted to be a member and help the community for the fulfilment for myself and learn new skills.
“You leave the controller role to the highly skilled. As the years went by, I gained them [the skills] myself.
“I’m really looking forward to it and I’ve got the support from my friends and family.”
Ms Thatcher said feedback from the unit and those higher up in the service had been supportive.
Ongoing unit controller Phil Jordan told Star Weekly that Ms Thatcher becoming unit controller was well overdue.
Ms Thatcher will lead an experienced leadership team, with the group having a combined 91 years’ experience between them.
Ms Thatcher said she wanted to continue to build on the work done by the unit n recent years.
“I want to follow in Phil’s footsteps,” she said.
“I don’t want to be stagnant. I want to broaden the community’s knowledge.
“I want to see unit peace and harmony, not just the management team, but the whole unit.”
As well as electing a new management team, the unit celebrated its 39th birthday.
