Wollongong City Council will host a public emergency services thank you event at the end of this month, to recognise those at the front line during this summer of disasters.
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The event will be held on March 28 in Wollongong's Lang Park between 10am and noon.
Volunteers and professionals from the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, NSW Fire & Rescue, NSW Ambulance, NSW Police and Defence personnel will be honoured.
The services will also offer supporters young and old the opportunity to get up close to fire trucks, police cars and other equipment and vehicles used during the crisis.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said it was important to acknowledge the affects the drawn out bushfire crisis had had on first responders.
"This season's bushfire crisis was huge not only in terms of the scale of the fires but also the personal impact it had on those on the frontline,'' he said.
"As a community, our hearts went out to our southern and western neighbours who were directly impacted by the bushfires.
We felt for all of those who put their lives on hold to fight fires across the state. It was physically hard work, as well as emotionally and mentally taxing.
- Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery
"We also felt for all of those who put their lives on hold to fight fires across the state. It was physically hard work, as well as emotionally and mentally taxing."
He said the severe storms and flooding rains which followed just as the fire crisis was ending put additional strain on the community.
"This event is to say thank you to all those volunteers and professionals who provided a helping hand," Cr Bradbery said.
"Everyone should come along and get involved in the fun."
The event will include a community sausage sizzle, which is free to emergency services and their immediate families (with identification).
For all other community members, sausage sandwiches can be purchased.
Other attractions will include a jumping castle, games and activities and an emergency services information booth.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
