In launching the awards at Government House, Gen Hurley, who grew up in Warrawong, acknowledged all the men and women in all emergency services for the magnificent work they do.

"I like these awards for a number of reasons," he said.

"We all know the relaying of information, the trust, the understanding and the knowledge of each other's organisations is absolutely critical."

Gen Hurley said all emergency service personnel he had met over the years gave time to that on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

He said that every day of the year they prepared with passion and determination to help people from all walks of life in the community in their time of need.

"You don't get there without all the effort you put in to both organise and train to be prepared on the day," he said.

And they were so well prepared they did not put themselves or anyone else in unnecessary danger, he said.

Gen Hurley said they were all worthy of recognition and that was why he agreed to be an ambassador of such a great initiative by Rotary.

And the fact the concept of the emergency service awards now spread across the state began in his home town of Wollongong with the help of Illawarra Rotary clubs was not lost on him.

Gen Hurley was joined at the launch by a contingent from the Illawarra including Wollongong Rotarian Dot Hennessy, who chairs the committee that runs the annual awards previously called the Pride of the Illawarra Emergency Service Awards, and Carole and Ian Johnston, of JAi Events, who have been involved in running the event from the start almost five years ago.

Finalists for the Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards will be announced in August.

Personnel and the public are encouraged to submit nominations before the closing date on May 6. Forms are available at RotaryESCawards.org.au.