The quiet heroes who respond when the Hawkesbury needs them most, from flood rescues to bushfire response are being recognised in a statewide push to honour the extraordinary work of emergency service personnel.
Nominations are now open for the Australia Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards, a national program celebrating frontline responders who go above and beyond in service to their communities.
Run by Rotary, the awards recognise both paid and volunteer members of emergency services, shining a spotlight on those who embody the organisation’s guiding principle of “Service Above Self.”
Recognising Those Who Go Beyond the Call
The awards bring together all emergency services police, fire, ambulance, State Emergency Service (SES) and others into a single recognition program.
Nominees are assessed not just on their operational duties, but on:
- community service beyond their role
- leadership and character
- and their broader contribution to their organisation
Importantly, nominations come directly from the community meaning Hawkesbury residents have the opportunity to recognise those who have stepped up in moments of crisis.
A Region Defined by Its Volunteers
For the Hawkesbury, these awards are deeply personal.
The region sits on one of Australia’s most flood-prone river systems, with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley experiencing more than 130 moderate to major floods since European settlement.
In recent years alone, local volunteers have been at the centre of repeated emergencies.
During the 2022 floods, the Hawkesbury River rose to levels not seen in decades, triggering mass evacuations and widespread rescues across the region.
Real Stories of Local Courage
Behind those statistics are real acts of courage.
During one flood event, SES volunteers from the Hawkesbury unit rescued a mother and her six-week-old baby from rapidly rising floodwaters at Gronos Point in 2022, navigating dangerous conditions to reach safety.
Local SES crews are also regularly called upon for storm response and flood evacuations.
In fact, Hawkesbury SES volunteers along with local RFS Sheds respond to dozens of road crash rescues each year.
More Than Just Emergency Response
The work of local emergency services extends far beyond crisis moments. Hawkesbury volunteers are involved in community education and preparedness, doorknocking in flood and fire-prone areas, training and mentoring new recruits and supporting recovery long after the headlines fade.
In past flood events, Rural Fire Service volunteers have also delivered food and supplies to isolated residents along the Hawkesbury River, ensuring communities remain connected during emergencies.
How the Awards Work
The Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards operate at both state and national levels.
Key dates include:
- Nominations close: 30 April
- Finalists announced: July
- State awards ceremonies: July–August
- National awards ceremony: October
Winners from each state progress to the national stage, where Australia’s top emergency service personnel are recognised.
A Chance to Recognise Local Heroes
One of the defining features of the awards is that anyone can nominate.
For the Hawkesbury community, that means recognising:
- the SES volunteer who knocks on doors in the rain
- the firefighter protecting homes on the fire front
- the paramedic providing care in critical moments
- or the rescue crews who step into danger to help others
These are often the people who do not seek recognition, but whose impact is felt across the entire community.
Celebrating “Service Above Self”
At a time when the Hawkesbury continues to face natural disasters and growing population pressures, the role of emergency services has never been more critical.
These awards offer a chance to pause and acknowledge the people who leave their families to respond to emergencies, train year-round for unpredictable events and show up again and again when their community needs them
A Community Built on Resilience
For the Hawkesbury, resilience is not just a word, it is a lived experience.
And behind that resilience is a network of volunteers and frontline workers whose commitment often goes unseen.
The Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards provide an opportunity to change that—to bring those stories into the spotlight and ensure that local heroes receive the recognition they deserve.
Nominations Now Open
Nominations are now open, with Hawkesbury residents encouraged to put forward individuals who embody courage, service and community spirit. Go to https://resca.awardsplatform.com/ and nominate our unsung heros.
