WHEN Brian McMannis was Frankston SES controller for nearly three decades, emergency services volunteers did things the McMannis way.
Now, the McMannis way will be immortalised after Frankston councillors backed a move to honour the former SES chief by naming a street near the organisation’s Seaford McCulloch Ave headquarters as McMannis Way.
Mr McMannis told The Times he is “shocked but privileged” to have a street named in his honour.
“It’s blown me away that they considered me for this,” he said.
At this month’s council meeting, councillors unanimously backed the street name plan.
Cr Glenn Aitken said Mr McMannis has been “very heavily involved in the community for many years and has been exemplary, to say the least”.
“It is uncommon for anyone living to have streets or places named after them.”
Cr Colin Hampton noted Mr McMannis “has brought together a team of both young and old people who go out day after day helping the residents of our town”.
He said Mr McMannis “is a stalwart” and the McMannis Way street name will be “a fitting memorial to Brian”.
“Whenever there is a problem, danger or a catastrophe of any sort, Brian is there with his troops sorting it out.”
Mr McMannis stepped aside as Frankston SES controller in June this year after 28 years in the hot seat (‘SES chief looks back on decades of disasters’, The Times 23/6/14). He is still an active SES volunteer who goes out to help those who urgently need it most.
He praised his fellow SES volunteers for their selfless dedication in helping their community recover from disasters such as storms.
“We’re one of the busiest units in the state,” he said.
“It takes a special person to give up their time and make sacrifices to help others.”
Council will send a submission for the naming of McMannis Way to the Registrar for Geographic Names.
Mr McMannis, a recipient of the Emergency Services Medal, was awarded the first-ever life membership of the SES in June.
