Winners of the annual Rotary Clubs and Districts of NSW Emergency Services Community Awards (NSW RESCA) were honoured at a ceremony at the Bankstown Sports Club last night, where Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib greeted finalists in what was the ninth anniversary of the community awards.
Seven professional emergency service personnel and volunteers from Fire and Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW, NSW Ambulance, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service and VRA Rescue NSW were announced as winners on the night, from a pool of 28 finalists.
The Officer of the Year in a Volunteer Capacity was awarded to Morgan Clarke, Woonona Club Captain, Surf Lifesaving NSW - Wollongong and the Officer of the Year in a Paid Capacity was awarded to Erin Pogmore, Leading Firefighter, Fire & Rescue NSW - Liverpool.
The two winners will represent NSW at the AUSRESCA (Australian RESCA) ceremony at Government House, Yarralumla, ACT on Friday 20 October 2023.
The winner of the Dorothy Hennessy Order of Australia Medal Emergency Services Youth Scholarship, for volunteers aged between 18 and 25, was also acknowledged on Saturday night, along with three other finalists. Cate Kyling, Junior Captain with Surf Lifesaving NSW based in Coogee, was awarded the $1000 scholarship for career development and further emergency services response training.
The community-nominated awards are an important way of recognising and celebrating the selfless contributions of the state's emergency services personnel.
The agency and overall winners are:
Fire + Rescue NSW - Winner
Erin Pogmore - Leading Firefighter, Liverpool
Marine Rescue NSW - Winner
Phillip Causley - Coxswain, Ballina
Surf Life Saving NSW - Winner
Morgan Clarke - Woonona Club Captain, Wollongong
VRA Rescue NSW - Winner
Joseph Difalco - Ski Patroller, Thredbo
NSW Ambulance - Winner
Damian Hughes - Chief Superintendent, Associate Director, Goonellabah
NSW Rural Fire Service - Winner
Michaela Anderson - Captain, Shoalhaven communications Brigade, Greenwell Point
NSW State Emergency Service - Winner
Yasmin Jimmieson - Acting Deputy Unit Commander, Armidale
Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship - Winner
Surf Lifesaving NSW
Cate Kyling - Junior Captain, Coogee SLSC
Overall Officer of the Year in a Volunteer Capacity
Surf Lifesaving NSW
Morgan Clarke - Woonona Club Captain, Wollongong
Overall Officer of the Year in a Paid Capacity
Fire & Rescue NSW
Erin Pogmore - Leading Firefighter, Liverpool
Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said:
"It takes someone special to put themselves in the line of danger. Our emergency services volunteers and paid professionals don't do it for the accolades, but these awards are an important recognition of their contribution and tireless dedication and sacrifice for communities."
"Our emergency service heroes have been on the frontline during floods, accidents, rescues, and fires. Not only do they keep our communities safe, often in the face of great personal risk, but they contribute in so many other ways and show the very best of human nature."
"It is a privilege to be the Minister for both our paid and volunteer officers in the Emergency Services portfolio."
Minister for Health, Ryan Park said:
"All too often, our emergency services personnel attend to us in our most distressing, harrowing and traumatic moments."
"They keep us calm, they give us first aid, they give us relief, reassurance and assistance."
"These awards recognise their dedication, professionalism and service to our community."
