Mr Berry was presented with the prestigious Ambulance Victoria Rod Moore Memorial Award for showing exceptional drive. 

Rod Moore was a paramedic who tried many times to get into the service.

The award is given in conjunction with Kiwanis International, of which Mr Moore was a member. 

The memorial award was established to remember the respected paramedic, who overcame considerable challenges to excel in his chosen career before he died in 2007.

Mr Berry said his team manager Chris Stewart nominated him for the award.

"I was a humble recipient,” he said. "I was a bit embarrassed. You don't do this job for the accolades.”

Mr Berry, who has lived in Timboon all his life, said he joined Ambulance Victoria via the Port Campbell Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in 2011.

“I did that for about six months and was lucky enough to be promoted as an ambulance community officer here in Timboon,” he said.

“After 18 months in a voluntary role I thought it would be a great career.”

He decided to study paramedicine, and enrolled online through Flinders University.

During that time his wife Melissa went back to work at Timboon P-12 School.

“She gave up that time at home with our three children to go to work to let me study,” Mr Berry said.

He also thanked his parents for their help and support along his study journey, and said they were always available to collect his children at a moment’s notice.

After four years studying Mr Berry graduated and was lucky enough to get a full-time job in December 2015 with Ambulance Victoria at Torquay.

He is now employed at Timboon.

“The end goal for us was always for me and Melissa to work in Timboon as this is where our livelihood is,” Mr Berry said.