Eighteen emergency services personnel have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours List for their exceptional commitment and dedication to protecting NSW communities.
The Australian Fire Service Medal is being awarded to 12 volunteers and staff of Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The Emergency Services Medal is being awarded to six volunteers and staff of the NSW State Emergency Service, Surf Life Saving NSW and the Volunteer Rescue Association.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the awards are well-deserved recognition for personnel who have given their all over the past 12 months in service of others.
“2022 was one of the wettest years in NSW history and we saw widespread, recordbreaking flooding across the State. This has required all of our emergency services organisations to do their utmost to protect people and property,” Ms Cooke said.
“Our volunteers and staff continue to go above and beyond to make their communities safer and stronger and I couldn’t be more proud of the way they have responded to unprecedented and unpredictable weather events, risking their own lives time and time again.
“On behalf of the people of NSW, I’d like to congratulate our medal recipients for their ongoing service, and reinforce the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s commitment to providing our first responders with the resources and support they need to keep our communities safe and strong into the future.”