President of Parkes Rotary Club Rex Veal said the awards are a wonderful initiative by Rotary NSW and celebrate volunteer and paid members of the six emergency services who perform community service above and beyond their normal duties.

“Emergency services workers are not only first responders during times of crisis but they also carry out many selfless acts at other times – through fundraising, community engagement and building community resilience,” Mr Veal said.

Mr Veal urged people in the Parkes community to consider nominating any deserving member of the emergency services agencies for recognition of outstanding service.

Members of the public and fellow Emergency Service workers are encouraged to submit online nominations via the awards website at: www.rotaryescawards.org.au .  

Nominations will remain open until April 20.

A panel of independent judges will assess nominees on three key criteria:

* Community service above and beyond the call of normal duties which best exemplifies Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self;

* Personal attributes; and

* Contribution to their organisation.

Finalists will be announced on June 8 at Parliament House and awards presented at the Awards Presentation Dinner to be held at Dockside Pavilion, Darling Harbour on July 23.

- - - - -

David Elliott MP, Minister for Emergency Services officially launched the 2016 Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards at Parliament House last month.

Now in its second year, the awards are an initiative of Rotary Districts and Clubs of NSW, to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of Emergency Services personnel across the state.  

In line with the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”, the Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards recognise Emergency Services Personnel for Community Service above and beyond the call of normal duties.

While individual services have their own internal awards, the Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards is the only time that all Emergency Services personnel - both paid and volunteer - are recognised in a combined awards program.  

The awards have been officially endorsed by all six NSW Emergency Service Commissioners.

The Rotary NSW Emergency Services Community Awards are open to all emergency service personnel from the six officially recognised NSW emergency service agencies - Fire & Rescue NSW; Marine Rescue NSW; NSW Ambulance; NSW Rural Fire Service; NSW State Emergency Service; and NSW Volunteer Rescue Association.

Funds raised through the Awards support Australian Rotary Health PhD Research Scholarship into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Emergency Service personnel.