NSW SES volunteers from the Packsaddle and Broken Hill units were recognised for their service last weekend, with a number of members receiving National Service Medals, NSW Long Service Awards, and Honorary Life Membership.
Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns, along with Chief Superintendent Brigid Rice, had the honour of presenting local members with their awards which taken together represented more than 400 years of combined service.
“These awards recognise your strong and lasting commitment to your communities,” Assistant Commission Kearns told the group.
“Recognising the vast distances travelled and the isolation of many incidents that have occurred throughout the Far West, it is a great honour to be able to present so many awards today.”
Mia Degoumois, Unit Commander at Packsaddle, told the Barrier Truth she was honoured to receive a National Service Medal and NSW Long Service Award.
“It feels great. It’s nice to feel appreciated,” she said.
“None of us do it for any sort of thanks because we’re volunteers. For me, I generally don’t think of how long I’ve been in the service, but it’s good to realise how long I have been in there – which is 17 years this year – and just how much it’s changed over the years.”
“It’s good to get the recognition, but you don’t do it for those things. You do it to support the community in times of disasters.”
Darrin Larkin, a member of the Broken Hill unit and one of the longest serving members – he’s entering his 31st year – said it was a rewarding job.
“It’s good to get the recognition, but you don’t do it for those things. You do it to support the community in times of disasters. It’s all about supporting your community in times of emergencies,” he told the Barrier Truth.
Superintendent and Deputy Zone Commander for the Far West, Marc Coulter, who was one of two to receive an Honorary Life Membership, said, “volunteers in Broken Hill and Packsaddle have responded to over 1100 incidents in the last 12 months, including a small number of flood rescues, during the Far West’s prolonged flood operations”.
The complete list of award winners:
National Service Medals or Clasps:
Arn Degoumois, Mia Degoumois, Viv Degoumois, Garry Dowling, Mark O’Connor, Wayne Hannan, Donald Miller, Nathan Robertson, Jenny Coulter
NSW Long Service Awards
John Chapman, Arn Degoumois, Mia Degoumois, Viv Degoumois, Garry Dowling, Mark O’Connor, Wayne Hannan, Kevern Hobman, Darrin Larkin, Donald Miller, Nathan Robertson, Jenny Coulter, Tim Quayle
Honorary Life Membership
Superintendent Marc Coulter, ESM, Jenny Coulter.
