Volunteers from the NSW State Emergency Service Goulburn and Windellama Units were recognised for their diligent service at an awards ceremony at Windellama on Monday night.
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Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Bob Kirk and NSW SES Southern Highlands acting region controller, Joanne Humphries, presented 12 awards to volunteers, including two National Medals and NSW SES Long Service Awards recognising five to 20 years’ service.
Four members of the Windellama SES Unit were also awarded a NSW SES Commissioner’s Unit Citation for their contribution in recognition of their response to a bus rollover in 2015 at Sandy Point Road, which saw a large, multi-agency response.
They were Kevin Muffett, Noel Sylvester, Margaret Burgoine and Graham Kinder, all from Windellama SES.
The first reponder team was among the first onsite, and was able to provide critical information back to communication centres, activating a multi-agency response.
Mr Sylvester was the first emergency services member on scene at the ADFA bus accident and was required to assess the situation, provide information back to communication centres which subsequently allowed an appropriate multi-agency response.
There was little information known about the accident’s size and complexity before his arrival.
Mr Muffett and Ms Burgoine arrived on scene and proceeded to carry out further triage and initial first aid treatment, working for many hours.
The SES members also assisted in facilitating/utilising uninjured ADF members to perform tasks, as well as arranging for clearance of areas in order to allow aircraft to land.
In presenting the overall awards, Mrs Humphries thanked the volunteers for their outstanding work on behalf of the community.
“These awards, representing a combined total of over 80 years’ service, recognise not only our volunteers’ years of active service, but also their diligence and dedication to the safety of their community,” Mrs Humphries said.
“While all SES volunteers show an extraordinary level of commitment to their communities, award presentations such as this provide special recognition to those whose accumulated wisdom and experience is irreplaceable.”
The Windellama SES Community First Responder (CFR) members play a valuable role in their rural community. Often an ambulance may be some time away from the caller. These volunteer members will respond and appropriately triage and treat the patient until an ambulance can arrive.
This can be for a single patient, or large scale incident, as seen in 2015. This volunteer team regularly maintains and enhances their skills on dedicated CFR training days. The work done by this team at this incident also allowed for a CFR training scenario to be created, which is used by teams across the state.
Cr Kirk also presented two Australian Government National Medals to David Hogan and Graham Kinder ESM. The National Medal is presented to members of Defence, Emergency Services, Police, or other eligible services’ after 15 years of service.
“It is a pleasure to be able to present these significant awards to these members. It is a small token of appreciation from the communities they service, thanking them for their dedication over such a long period,” he said.
