Volunteers from the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) have been recognised for their diligent service to their community at an awards ceremony in Tamworth. On Saturday 18th May 2019, NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Greg Newton presented three NSW SES members with very special awards.
NSW SES congratulates all the humble recipients and hope acknowledge more dedicated members in the near future.
Life Member
The Life Member Award for outstanding contribution to the NSW SES over a prolonged period.
- Life Member over 24 years of service - Graeme Geyer
Long Service Award
The Long Service Award is awarded to members of the NSW SES who have achieved a period of diligent service of five (5) years, and then every five years' service anniversary thereafter.
Award Recipients - Long Service Award
- 30 Year Long Service Award - David Monk
- 20 Year Long Service Award - Joshua Harvey
More about the recipients
Graeme Geyer - Life Member
Recipient of the Life Member Award for outstanding contribution to the NSW SES over a prolonged period.
Graeme Geyer joined the NSW SES in 1995 when he was approached by the then NSW SES Murrumbidgee Region Executive Officer Keith Favell to provide leadership for the NSW SES Darlington Point Unit. The Darlington Point Unit was at the time experiencing management and membership issues. Graeme was at this time the President of the Coleambally Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) Unit and a well-known local resident.
Graeme was also well known in local emergency management circles having been a member of the VRA since 1976. Graeme volunteered to take on the role of Local Controller and threw himself enthusiastically into the role providing much needed stability and direction for the unit. Graeme re-established the viability of the unit relocating it from Darlington Point to Coleambally some 40 kms away after securing an appropriate headquarters. Under Graeme's stewardship the Unit enhanced its professional standing both within the emergency service and wider communities.
In 2001 Graeme was a recipient of the Centenary Medal in recognition of his service to the community through the VRA.
After joining the NSW SES, Graeme soon became a well-known trainer within the SES Murrumbidgee Region and supported operations across that region. Graeme also participated as a subject matter expert in training areas at state level, particularly those in the rescue area. During Graeme's tenure as Local Controller, the Coleambally Unit was considered to be amongst the best managed and lead units in the Service.
In 2006 with the expansion of staffing in the NSW SES Regions, Graeme decided to pursue his passion for training and the NSW SES, applying for a position as a Region Learning and Development Officer (RLDO) even though this could lead to having to relocate from the Coleambally district.
After being appointed to the position of RLDO, Namoi Region Graeme and his wife, Rhonda, relocated from Coleambally which had been their life long home to Gunnedah.
Upon taking up the position of RLDO, Graeme quickly established an excellent rapport with volunteers from across the region rapidly building the operational and training capability of Units in the Namoi Region.
Graeme held the position of RLDO Namoi Region until his retirement from employment with the NSW SES in October 2018.
Over the past twelve years, Graeme has regularly gone over and above the requirements of his role being an active contributor to the organisational health and success of the NSW SES. This has included:
- Participation in all major operations at region and across the state
- Coordination and support of region rescue competitions and support at numerous State Rescue Competitions
- Participation in numerous working groups
- Support of numerous special projects such as the Boggabri Unit rebuild 2017 and the Indigenous Volunteers Training Program in 2008 to name a couple.
During his time at Namoi Region, Graeme has provided leadership in the training sphere as well as been a highly valued member of the region team.
Although Graeme has retired from being a paid employee of the NSW SES, he has lost none of his energy or enthusiasm to progress the service and support its people and the community.
Graeme is now an active member of the Gunnedah and Western Zone Capability Units and is supporting training across the Service.
Graeme is a recipient of the National Medal & Clasps 1 & 2, NSW SES 5-20 Year Long Service Awards, Commissioner's Certificate of Appreciation, NSW SES Director General's Unit Citation, NSW SES Director General's Commendation for Service and the SES State Medal for the Hunter/Sydney Northern Storms.
Picture left to right: NSW SES Deputy Commissioner, Greg Newton, Graeme Geyer & Western Zone Commander, David Monk
David Monk- 30 Year Long Service Award Clasp
Recipient of the 30 Year Long Service Award Clasp for diligent service.
David Monk began his service to the people of NSW in May 1988 where he joined the Sutherland Unit. David was an active volunteer member who held many positions including Field Team Leader, Operations Officer and Local Controller until being appointed as Region Controller, Macquarie Region in November 2003.
During David's 30 years of service, he has continued to provide his leadership skills and expertise to support communities throughout NSW including deployments to the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake, 1997 Thredbo Landslide as Taskforce Commander, 1999 Sydney April Hailstorm as Operations Controller, 2003 Canberra Fires as Taskforce Commander, 2015 Hunter Storms as Deputy Incident Controller and more recently the 2018 Lismore Floods as Incident Controller. David also held a key role in the development and establishment of the NSW SES aviation capability and vehicle standards and is an endorsed trainer and assessor in Incident Management.
David is a recipient of a NSW SES Commissioner's Commendation for Service and a Unit Citation for his IMT role during the 2018 Lismore Floods. David was recently assigned to the role of Zone Commander, Western Zone in August 2018.
Picture left to right: NSW SES Deputy Commissioner, Greg Newton & David Monk
Josh Harvey - 20 Year Long Service Award Clasp
Joshua Harvey joined the NSW SES Broken Hill City Unit in February 1998. During Josh's 20 years of voluntary service, he has been involved in numerous community events in Broken Hill and throughout the Far West and has also attended countless OOA events and disasters across NSW and north eastern SA.
Josh has provided skills and expertise to support other units in the Far West in Training and Assessment, Emergency Management and Work, Health and Safety as the Health and Safety Representative.
Josh was recognised in the Broken Hill Australian Day Awards 2015 for services to the community of Broken Hill.
He has held a number of positions within the Broken Hill Unit including Rescue Officer, Training Officer and was appointed to the role of Local Controller of Broken Hill Unit in March 2015 and is currently the Unit Commander.
Josh's training qualifications are broad and he is a trainer and assessor in several topics. Josh has also completed Diplomas in Training and Assessment, Emergency Management (Public Safety) and Work, Health and Safety, which serve him well within the organisation and his place of employment.
Picture left to right: NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Greg Newton, Joshua Harvey & Western Zone Commander, David Monk
