Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant today announced 24 NSW and 8 ACT finalists for the 2018 Rotary Clubs and Districts of NSW and ACT Emergency Services Community Awards.
 
Mr Grant said the expanded awards, which include the ACT for the first time, are a fantastic opportunity to shine a light upon the enormous contribution of emergency services workers such as nominee Alan Johnson from Batlow who has been a volunteer for over 52 years.
 
“These awards celebrate the outstanding commitment, sacrifice and spirit of service. As a community it is important that we take the time to acknowledge and thank volunteers and personnel who give so much of themselves and ask so little in return,” Mr Grant said.
 
“As a state we are hugely indebted to all our emergency services men and women. We should never take for granted their commitment to protecting us and it is important that we acknowledge the unsung heroes who repeatedly go above and beyond.
 
“This year’s finalists have more than 600 years of combined service and I thank them all for their exemplary community service.”
 
Finalists come from the following emergency services agencies:
 
  • Fire & Rescue NSW
  • ACT Fire & Rescue
  • NSW Ambulance
  • ACT Ambulance
  • NSW Rural Fire Service
  • ACT Rural Fire Service
  • NSW State Emergency Service
  • ACT State Emergency Service
  • Marine Rescue NSW
 
  • NSW Volunteer Rescue Association.
 
 
Mr Grant announced the creation of a $1,000 Dorothy Hennessy Emergency Services Youth scholarship for a volunteer aged up to 21 for training and educational materials or equipment.
 
“This scholarship celebrates our young volunteers and honours the outstanding contribution of an individual in providing support to their community,” Mr Grant said.
 
Commissioners from the NSW SES, NSW RFS, Marine Rescue NSW and the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association will each nominate an outstanding individual for consideration of the scholarship. A Rotary NSW panel will determine the most deserving candidate.
 
Winners for each service, plus two special winners for NSW and for ACT, and the young volunteer will be announced at an Awards Presentation Dinner, at the Bankstown Sports Club.
 
Family, friends, supporters and the general public are invited to attend the presentation dinner. Tickets can purchased at: www.RotaryESCawards.org.au.
 
The 2018 Rotary NSW and ACT Emergency Services Community Awards finalists:
 
Service / Agency
First Name
Last Name
Community / Suburb
Fire & Rescue NSW
John
McGarvey
Gosford
Fire & Rescue NSW
Justin
Sullivan
Bankstown
Fire & Rescue NSW
Russell
Turner
Ingleburn
Fire & Rescue NSW
Andrew
Verus
Kogarah
Marine Rescue NSW
Paul
Bellard
Birkenhead Point
Marine Rescue NSW
Paul
Robinson
Birkenhead Point
Marine Rescue NSW
Jacquelyn
Taffs
Wooli
Marine Rescue NSW
Richard
Wrightson
Lake Macquarie
NSW Ambulance
Susan
Baker
Ashford
NSW Ambulance
Jarrod
Browning
Hawkesbury
NSW Ambulance
Allan
Simpkins
Kempsey
NSW Ambulance
Paul
Vowels
Beresfield
NSW Rural Fire Service
Donald 
Anderson
McMasters Beach
NSW Rural Fire Service
Glenn
Byrnes
East Maitland
NSW Rural Fire Service
Les
Goldie
Kearsley
NSW Rural Fire Service
Deborah
Sharp
Engadine
NSW State Emergency Service
Bill - Roy
Atchison
Grenfell
NSW State Emergency Service
Keith
Dawe
Condobolin
NSW State Emergency Service
William 
Dodd
Forster Tuncurry
NSW State Emergency Service
Naomi
Leviton
Manly
NSW Volunteer Rescue Association
Geoffrey
Hawes
Mudgee
NSW Volunteer Rescue Association
Alan
Johnson
Taree
NSW Volunteer Rescue Association
Debra
Scanes ESM
Binalong
NSW Volunteer Rescue Association
John
Wraight
Byron Shire
 
 
 
 
ACT Ambulance
Michael
Bohun
Fairbairn
ACT Ambulance
Andy
Francey
Belconnen
ACT Fire and Rescue
Mark
Blake
Canberra
ACT Fire and Rescue
Robert
Thompson
Fyshwick
ACT Rural Fire Service
Anthony
Kidney
Holt
ACT Rural Fire Service
Mark 
Sedgman
Stromlo
ACT State Emergency Service
Sue
Elsbury
Campbell
ACT State Emergency Service
Norm
Nelson
Pialligo