NSW appreciates engagement and commitment of young people in emergency service volunteering
NSW has announced awards to recognise the achievements of young cadets and volunteers in the NSW Emergency Services.
Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant announced the winners of the 2016 NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Cadet of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year.
Mr Grant said recent natural disasters in NSW highlight the invaluable contribution of volunteers and the need to recruit, train and retain young volunteers to ensure the strength of our emergency service agencies into the future.
“I congratulate Javen Ricevuto (RFS) and Sasha Cox (SES), for their outstanding participation and achievements in the Secondary School Cadet Program, and Alexander Slade (RFS), Elizabeth Butt (RFS) and Yvette Amos (SES) who are all recipients of the Young Volunteer of the Year award,” Mr Grant said.
The awards recognise the achievements of young people at different stages of involvement with emergency volunteering.
“We cannot thank our emergency services volunteers enough. These impressive youngsters are already making a great contribution and I wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said it was great to see the engagement and commitment of young people in emergency service volunteering, be that as part of their local Brigade, as a young member, or as a cadet in the RFS Secondary School Cadet Program.
“The effort and enthusiasm of young members in the RFS is significant and these awards acknowledge their hard work, camaraderie and community participation,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
“These young people have demonstrated the commitment and enthusiasm that ensure our great volunteer emergency services will go from strength to strength in coming years.”
NSW SES Commissioner Mark Smethurst said he was pleased to see increasing numbers of young people joining emergency service organisations.
“Young people have a great deal to offer their communities and it is terrific to see the SES providing the opportunity for them to contribute,” Mr Smethurst said.
“The professional training and diverse experience the NSW SES provides, means that young people like this can take their enthusiasm for providing assistance in times of need and turn it into a professional career.”
The Cadet of the Year Award was established in 2009, to acknowledge the efforts of a participant in each of their respective Secondary School Cadet Programs. Since then, both RFS and SES have introduced additional award programs for young members under 25 who contribute by volunteering with their local brigade or unit.
Profiles of the award recipients can be found on the NSW RFS website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au, and NSW SES website: www.ses.nsw.gov.au.
List of 2017 Emergency Services Award recipients:
- RFS Cadet of the Year – Javen Ricevuto, Balranald Central School, Region South.
- SES Cadet of the Year – Sasha Cox, Broken Hill High School, Far West Region.
- RFS Young Volunteer of the Year (12-15 years) – Alexander Slade, Williamtown/Salt Ash Rural Fire Brigade, Region East.
- RFS Young Volunteer of the Year (16-25 years) – Elizabeth Butt, Bendick Murrell Rural Fire Brigade, Region West.
- SES Young Volunteer of the Year (16-25 years) – Yvette Amos, NSW SES Snowy River Unit, Southern Highlands Region.
