A volunteer with the Broadmeadows SES for 15 years, Mr Ledger has a lot of tragic but rewarding experiences to tell of.

Last week, he was recognised with a medal at the 2011 State Emergency Service national awards for his commitment to helping others.

Mr Ledger said while he didn't join the SES to seek honours, being recognised was appreciated.

"It feels pretty good, but I haven't done this for 15 years just to get an award. It's just a nice little recognition of the part we play in the grand scheme of emergency management."

Mr Ledger, who joined the SES after a recommendation from his mother when he was 20, has seen his fair share of devastating situations. Foremost was the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

"It was probably one of the hardest situations.

"We went to the Kinglake area and it was emotionally hard because you were driving past death and destruction and it couldn't be avoided."

Last year's floods in Victoria also stand out in his memory.

"During last year's September floods, a colleague and I went to spend a week in the incident control centre in Wangaratta.

"That was hectic, very fast-paced and a real eye-opener into how a large-scale incident is run on the SES side."

Mr Ledger, a pyrotechnician by day, spends three hours a week training with the SES and is on call for emergency situations.