Bulli mum Carol Bond has been named the first NSW Emergency Services Paid Officer of the Year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NSW Ambulance paramedic specialist based in Bulli was recognised at the inaugural Rotary NSW State Emergency Services Awards.
Ms Bond took out the NSW Ambulance category before being named overall winner of the Rotary NSW Emergency Services Officer of the Year (in a paid capacity).
Since she joined NSW Ambulance in 1987, Ms Bond has committed vast amounts of time and energy into supporting community groups, such as amateur swimming, surf lifesaving, The Royal NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, Neighbourhood Watch and Corrimal East Public School.
The statewide awards, recognising emergency service personnel in a paid and volunteer capacity, were organised by Rotary.
The service organisation itself promotes service above self.
"Carol has continually served above and beyond the call of her normal duties, both within and outside the NSW Ambulance Service, all whilst being a full-time shift working mother with on-call duties," her award citation read.
"Her ethical behaviour and integrity are paramount, not just as a paramedic, but in her personal life as well."
The NSW Emergency Services Awards grew out of the Pride of the Illawarra Awards started four years ago by Rotary Clubs of the Illawarra. The plan was always for the initiative to go national within two to three years.
The winner of the Rotary NSW Emergency Services Officer of the Year, in a volunteer capacity, was NSW SES flood rescue officer Shannon Crofton.
Since he started volunteering with the SES in 1989, Mr Crofton has become one of the world's leading experts on floods and flood rescue.
His citation stated that "his passion for preparedness and education has been integral to the development of flood rescue capabilities within the NSW SES and other emergency services".
Mr Crofton works in the Sydney South region and was a Churchill Fellowship recipient in 2011.
He has studied the use of helicopters in flood rescue and is the only Australian to receive the prestigious Higgins and Langley Award for Outstanding Achievement in Flood and Swiftwater Rescue. He has received two bravery awards and is also a paid firefighter with Fire and Rescue NSW.
Among those present at Dockside Pavilion, Darling Harbour, on Friday night were the Governor of NSW general David Hurley and NSW Premier Mike Baird.
Also in attendance was NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott.
MAJOR WINNERS
Rotary NSW State Emergency Services Awards 2015
CATEGORY WINNERS
■Emergency Services, Officers of the Year:
■Fire & Rescue NSW – Brendan Hurley
■Marine Rescue NSW – Eryl Thomas
■NSW Ambulance – Carol Bond
■NSW Rural Fire Service – Jeffrey Luke
■NSW State Emergency Service – Shannon Crofton
■NSW Volunteer Rescue Association – Rodney Coombes
OVERALL WINNERS
■Officer serving in a Volunteer Capacity – Shannon Crofton, NSW State Emergency Service
■Officer serving in a Paid Capacity – Carol Bond, NSW Ambulance.
