ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACTESA) volunteers and staff and ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) personnel have been honoured at a joint awards ceremony for their efforts to support the community.
ACTESA Commissioner, Georgeina Whelan said the National Medal and ESA Long Service Medals recognised the contribution that emergency personnel made towards protecting the ACT.
“I am proud of our volunteers and staff, who not only work in challenging environments every day, but have continued to deliver outstanding service to the community during the ongoing pandemic,” Commissioner Whelan said.
“Faced with COVID-19 and numerous natural disasters, our frontline workers have risen to the occasion and continued to deliver outstanding service to the community in their time of need,” she said.
Commissioner Whelan said 82 ACTESA staff and volunteers were awarded the National Medal and ESA Long Service Medals for their commitment and dedication.
She said 23 ACTESA and 22 PCS personnel received the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal for their deployment in Canada to assist with the 2017 wildfires response.
Director for the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Daniel Iglesias said the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal recognised the ACT’s collaborative approach to bushfire response.
“As Canberrans, we are acutely aware of the importance in banding together to help our neighbours respond to fires and catastrophes, whether they are just down the road or far across the pond,” Mr Iglesias said.
“When faced with these difficult challenges, no matter where they occur, we know we have people who are willing to rise to the occasion and put their expertise and experience in action to help those in need,” he said.
Commissioner Whelan said ACTESA recipients were also awarded with the National Medal or clasp for 15 years or more of service.
“The ACT Emergency Services Agency Long Service Medal and National Medal acknowledges the long service and dedication of staff and volunteers within the ACTESA and nationally who assist the community during times of crisis in enabling services and emergency management roles,” she said.
Commissioner Whelan said this was the first time that a joint event had been held to recognise the award recipients together for the National Medal; Humanitarian Overseas Services Medal – British Columbia II; ESA Long Service Medal; ACT Ambulance Long Service Medal; and the ACT Fire and Rescue Volunteer Long Service Medal.
