SES Clifton Group Awarded Operational Response Of Year

Clifton State Emergency Service (SES) group and its members have been recognised at the service's State Awards in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon, awarded The Chief Officer's Shield for operational response.

The State Awards, which marked the end of SES week across Queensland, recognised SES units and members for their remarkable contributions to the state.

The group was acknowledged for its response to a major storm cell which swept through the region on 1 November 2025, bringing golf-ball sized hail and causing structural damage in the region.

The Clifton Group, which, at the time consisted of just four members, responded to 119 tasks, as they helped the community recover in the storm's aftermath.

Damage from the system was severe and unprecedented, and Acting Regional Director David Johnson said parts of the town and district resembled a disaster zone.

"Windows and skylights were shattered, roofs were damaged, parked cars smashed, and debris scattered across the area," Regional Director Johnson said.

"What the Clifton team faced was extraordinary.

This was not simply an SES response to an affected community. These volunteers were part of that community and were dealing with the same devastation themselves."

Acting Area Controller Emily Higgins said she is proud of the group and is thrilled that their dedication has been recognised.

"This award is a fitting acknowledgement of the hard work of our small but mighty Clifton Group," Mrs Higgins said.

"We're also incredibly grateful to the volunteers from the Toowoomba and Southern Downs Units who came to Clifton to help with the clean-up.

Their willingness to support neighbouring communities in times of need truly reflects the values of the SES.

"The group is the embodiment of the values of the Service, and this event reinforced the vital role of the SES in supporting and protecting Queenslanders in times of need."