The Illawarra and South Coast has four finalists in the inaugural Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards to be held at Darling Harbour, Sydney on Friday.
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The major awards event is the first annual statewide event growing out of the Pride of the Illawarra Awards started by the combined Rotary Clubs of the Illawarra several years ago.
The plan was always to develop into something bigger and the Rotarians involved have their sights set on making it national within the next two to three years.
Members of the community are encouraged to nominate emergency service personnel from their region.
The 2015 state finalists nominated by the public in the communities they serve included four from the Illawarra.
They are Marine Rescue regional controller Bruce Mitchell, NSW Ambulance paramedic Carol Bond, NSW Volunteer Rescue Association squad captain Kieran Knuckey and SES flood rescue officer Shannon Crofton.
The remainder of the 24 finalists come from across the state.
The annual awards involve six recognised state emergency service organisations including the Ambulance Service of NSW, Fire & Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW State Emergency Service and NSW Volunteer Rescue Association.
Funds raised from the awards will lead to the establishment of PhD Scholarship Research into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Emergency Services Personnel.
At the announcement of finalists Governor of NSW general David Hurley said it was great to learn how the statewide awards for emergency service personnel had started in Wollongong four years ago.
Gen Hurley grew up in Warrawong and is the patron of the inaugural Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards.
NSW Premier Mike Baird. who is the official ambassador of the awards, will be joining the presentation in Sydney.
Video of Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards launch at Government House in March
Video of Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards announcement of finalsts at NSW Parliament House in June
2015 ROTARY NSW EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARDS FINALISTS
FIRE & RESCUE NSW
BRENDAN HURLEY Station Officer LIVERPOOL PAID
DAVID LEWIS Superintendent BATEMANS BAY PAID
MICHAEL NGUYEN Senior Firefighter CABRAMATTA PAID
SAM WALL Senior Firefighter DEE WHY PAID
MARINE RESCUE NSW
BRUCE MITCHELL Regional Controller ILLAWARRA PAID
JOHN THOMAS Marine Rescue Volunteer PORT STEPHENS VOLUNTEER
DENNIS TRAVERS Marine Rescue Volunteer TUNCURRY / FOSTER VOLUNTEER
DEREK FORD Marine Rescue Volunteer PORT MACQUARIE VOLUNTEER
NSW AMBULANCE
PAUL ALEXANDER Paramedic DUNGOG PAID
CAROLE BOND Paramedic BULLI PAID
PHIL HOEY Paramedic WAGGA WAGGA PAID
GERRY PYKE Paramedic BANKSTOWN PAID
NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE
MARK EGLINGTON Group Captain TWEED DISTRICT VOLUNTEER
JEFFREY LUKE Brigade Captain WOOLGOOLGA VOLUNTEER
THOMAS McCABE Captain SUTHERLAND VOLUNTEER
GREGG MILLER Captain BYRON BAY VOLUNTEER
NSW STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE
PETER CINQUE Regional Controller SYDNEY WESTERN REGION VOLUNTEER
SHANNON CROFTON Flood Rescue Officer SYDNEY SOUTH REGION VOLUNTEER
LOUISE de MARCO Logistics Officer NORTH SYDNEY UNIT VOLUNTEER
PETA LUKE Unit Controller MERRIWA VOLUNTEER
NSW VOLUNTEER RESCUE ASSOCIATION
IAN BENNETT Captain LITHGOW VOLUNTEER
RODNEY COOMBES Captain COONABARABRAN VOLUNTEER
KIERAN KNUCKEY Squad Captain SOUTH COAST VOLUNTEER
PETER WACHTEL Treasurer PERISHER VOLUNTEER
