Norman Farmer, Member of the ILS Lifesaving Commission and Chair of the ILS Education Committee was awarded the Emergency Services Medal of the Victoria Emergency Services.

Norman Farmer joined the lifesaving movement as a volunteer at 10 years of age, and 40 years on he continues this commitment and passion for the aims and objectives of the movement and, more broadly, to Water Safety in Victoria, Australia and internationally through his professional position as joint CEO of Life Saving Victoria. His commitment for all Victorians to access our aquatic environments safely is the underpinning motive for his continuing involvement initiatives and projects.

In 1999, the RLSSA-Victoria Board of Directors moved to form a Life Saving Victoria Working Party. Under Mr Farmer’s direction and guidance, both professional staff and volunteers were required to work through the many issues associated with the concept of creating Life Saving Victoria. It has been Mr Farmer’s role to investigate the operational issues, and to amalgamate both RLSSA-Victoria and SLS-Victoria operational practices, procedures and Government requirements to develop a new single entity.

His involvement has seen him provide leadership far above professional expectations. His outstanding management and support have provided the direction and guidance to both volunteers and professional staff, with the result that Life Saving Victoria is now a recognised member of the Emergency Services Department.