After hectic period in charge outgoing Albany SES manager Bob Boyes says now is right time to step aside

Outgoing Albany State Emergency Services manager Bob Boyes says now is the right time to hand over the reins. Albany’s SES volunteers call a new $3 million facility on Mercer Road their home these days and on January 30 Mr Boyes officially stepped down as manager. Having been involved in the Albany branch for nearly a decade and spending almost three years in the role as manager, Mr Boyes believes now is the right time to step aside. “I spent five years telling everyone I won’t be local manager and then with the new building moving close I put my hand up about three years ago,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done my bit and now I can step back, but I’ll still be an active member. “We’ve been working on succession planning for some time now and it’s been seamless really. “There are a lot of things I’m going to miss, it’s been great. “The job has had its moments and sometimes the expectations on us are extreme, but we get the job done.” The new “state-of-the-art” facility was opened in November last year and Mr Boyes said the project had been a lot of hard work. “We were in our old place for 38 years and we’d been working on this new building for a long time,” Mr Boyes said. “It was really important for me to see us through until the new building. I’m quite happy to leave this position because things are looking positive going forward. “We have a good management team, our section leaders are very capable as well. “We do struggle as all volunteer organisations do at attracting and retaining, but everyone has a role to play in any response or incident.” Nathan Anderson will step in as interim local manager until the formal process to fill the position is complete.