Service
On Sep 20, 2020

Bushfire contribution recognised

Congratulations to the 365 members of Marine Rescue NSW who will receive the Bushfire Emergency Citation to recognise their contribution to the State’s Black Summer bushfire response.

A total of 355 volunteers from 25 units and 10 staff members will be awarded the Citation.

MRNSW members’ efforts included staffing Emergency Operations Centres, conducting Rural Fire Service communications, predeploying vessels for potential evacuations, assisting in evacuation centres and opening their own bases to people in harm’s way.

Crews evacuated a family of five sheltering on a beachfront, carried out resupply missions and prevented a potential major fire in Sydney bushland by detecting and extinguishing a camp fire in a National Park during a Total Fire Ban on a day of record heat.

Members assembled daily for weeks to answer public calls to the Bush Fire Information Line and Public Information and Inquiry Centre.

Staff coordinated our assistance and were based at RFS Headquarters as liaison officers, along with providing essential support to volunteers.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott announced the citations today:

BUSHFIRE RESPONDERS AWARDED FOR HEROISMThe outstanding contribution of volunteers and service personnel during the 2019-2020 bushfires is being recognised with a new NSW Bushfire Emergency Citation.

ore than 65,000 people involved across a broad spectrum of the firefight will receive a citation, certificate of recognition, commemorative cap and a letter from the Premier acknowledging their contribution and thanking them for their service.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said NSW faced an unprecedented bushfire season during 2019-2020 and this initiative recognises those who served both on the front line and behind the scenes.

“This citation is thoroughly deserved for the thousands of volunteers and emergency services personnel who put their safety on the line to protect lives and properties. Equally deserving are those recognised who provided critical behind the scenessupport,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“In harrowing conditions, those recognised kept turning up to help their communities day after day, week after week, month after month. This citation serves as a reminder of their heroic dedication to the people of NSW in the most trying circumstances.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said it was imperative we recognise the hard work and dedication of those who served their community during the ‘black summer’ bushfires.

“This is an opportunity for the people of NSW to show our brave emergency services personnel that we don’t consider them to be simply public servants in uniform. The unique nature of decorations and awards personify the bravery required and dedication to service,” Mr Elliott said.

The NSW Emergency Bushfire citations extend beyond NSW, with firefighters from interstate and overseas recognised. Thousands of Australians interstate will receive citations along with more than 300 people from overseas to thank them for their efforts in NSW’s biggest bushfire crisis in living memory.

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