A member of the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) has found his portrait adorning a fire tower on a city bank of the Yarra River as part of a display of extraordinary people chosen for their embodiment of the spirit of the ox.
VICSES took pride in seeing Monash Unit Officer David Michalowsky among the chosen participants, all of whom are featured in the Lunar New Year series.
“The 27-year-old volunteer was deployed in a support role during the 2019/2020 bushfire season, and worked out of Traralgon Regional Control Centre, coordinating resources,” VICSES said.
“David, also a Primary School teacher, responded to numerous critical incidents in 2020, and trained fellow VICSES members, all while dealing with a devastating personal loss,” it said.
“Sam Wong’s extraordinary photo of David stands proudly at the Crown Casino Riverwalk, and represents the Chinese zodiac of 2021 – the Ox, this animal personifies strength, diligence, reliability, honesty and commitment.”
VICSES said five other Victorians were also being honoured in the two-week tribute, including an Infectious Diseases Nurse, the owner of a Gippsland Dairy, an Assistant Director of a junior school, a cook and mum who delivered homemade fried rice to the homeless, as well as a member of Sikh Volunteers Australia.
The Portraits of Strength public exhibition runs until Sunday (21 February) along the Crown Riverwalk.
