There will be a change in the Tenterfield State Emergency Service management with Hugh Campbell stepping down as Unit Controller and another local taking up the position.

Phil Yates has been selected for the role and received confirmation of the appointment last Thursday by post. Mr Yates, who recently stepped down from the position of Tenterfield Rotary President, will continue his leadership work with the SES.

“It’s going to be a bit more responsibility,” Mr Yates said.

“I first joined (the SES) back in 1999. I’ve since gone back again and completed a couple of courses.”

Mr Yates said it was a job that he was interested in after seeing the position advertised. Though he admitted that he was going to be thrown in the deep end he said he will make every effort to see the unit continue to operate at a high standard.

“If there are improvements to make they will need to be made,” Mr Yates said.

“I will give it my best shot.”

Mr Yates joined the emergency service unit to help people that face dire circumstances. He said that there was nothing worse than being stuck on the side of a road waiting for assistance during an emergency, and helping those people made the job worthwhile.

Mr Yates previously worked as a council delegate for the volunteer service. SES Region Controller for the North West Region, Steve Martin, said his prior work with the service would be beneficial in his new position as Unit Controller.

“Mr Yates has a background in the police rescue squad and has done a lot of work with councils and understands the workings of a volunteer organisation,” Mr Martin said.

“The idea with lot of country areas is that we need as many people in the field as we can. This position is more of a manager or organiser. The same has been done in Glen Innes and Inverell.”

On behalf of the service and the community Mr Martin said he wished to thank Hugh and Gay Campbell for their work in the Tenterfield SES, and Hugh for being the Unit Controller,

“We’ve released the previous controller out into the field to help the community in emergencies,” Mr Martin said.