Albany SES volunteer pops the question in front of ‘orange family’ at SES unit meeting

An Albany volunteer has taken his passion for the SES to the next level, choosing to pop the question during the unit’s meeting last week.

Albany SES volunteers Timothy Vokins and Lisa Coombe had their special moment during a meeting at SES headquarters on Sanford Road on October 17.

The couple met on a 30+ singles Facebook page in March last year, bonding over their shared medical experiences.

“I was going through the posts and Lisa’s came up and she said she’s got to have an operation on her aortic valve,” Mr Vokins said.

“And as soon as I replied, I said ‘I’ve been through what you’re going through.’”

The couple met two days after that initial online connection, and they have been together ever since.

They encouraged each other to re-join the ranks of the SES, with Mr Vokins starting with the Albany unit last year after time with the Cranbrook SES, and Ms Coombe joining in January after a stint with the Northam SES.

“The SES is an important part of the community,” Ms Coombe said.

“You never know when a storm’s going to come through or someone can get lost, you need someone to turn to and that’s what we do.”

Mr Vokin’s original plan to propose on October 10, his late mother’s birthday, was thrown into disarray when he was called out to help with the rescue of a hiker lost on Ellen Peak.

Instead, he proposed during an SES meeting, taking the chance to thank his “orange family” for their support after the death of his mother last year.

Ms Coombe said the proposal was a surprise to her and her fellow vollies.

“I knew it was coming, I just didn’t know when it was coming,” she said.

The couple already have plans for a wedding in November next year, and their big day will have another SES connection, with a volunteer serving as their celebrant.

While the wedding will involve their “orange family”, there will not be any orange going down the aisle — although Mr Vokins did consider wearing his uniform.

“I don’t want to stick out more than the bride,” he said.