The South Coast was well represented at the 2016 Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards on Saturday. Kiama’s David Kay and Kelvin Milne were finalists for NSW Ambulance and regional first aid trainer Dr Peter Taylor, of Greenwell Point, was named officer of the year for Marine Rescue. Dr Taylor started with the Volunteer Rescue Association maritime unit in the Shoalhaven 1998 after serving as a doctor for the State Emergency Service in Rockhampton. He specialised in cliff rescue and became a qualified rescue vessel trainer. When Marine Rescue NSW was formed he wrote a first-aid training manual and has been involved in recruiting and mentoring. He is involved with a dream cricket squad that travels internationally providing sport for disabled children. Dr Taylor said he was accepting the award on behalf of his whole unit because he could not do what he does without them. He has no idea who nominated him and was surprised because he knows so many people who do so much. Dr Taylor had an important message he wanted to convey on behalf of all emergency workers. “The unsung heroes of all of this are our partners. Without them we couldn’t do what we do. They are the ones waiting at home for us. They are the ones that worry about about us.”