Finalists at the NSW RESCA in 2023, which included Woonona’s Morgan Clarke. Photo: NSW RESCA.
Rotary is making a final call for nominations to recognise the Illawarra’s selfless emergency service workers — both paid and volunteer — before entries close on 14 May for the NSW Emergency Services Community Awards, a program that began in the region a decade ago.
Long-time Wollongong Rotarian Dorothy (Dot) Hennessy said the Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA) started as a pilot in the Illawarra 10 years ago and is now a national project recognising outstanding community service performed by members from seven emergency service agencies.
The seven agencies eligible are NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW SES, VRA Rescue NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW.
Dot said there was also a special scholarship in her name, the Dot Hennessy OAM Emergency Services Youth Scholarship, for 18- to 25-year-olds who showed outstanding skills in the area they worked in.
In 2018, in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs and Districts of NSW, former minister for emergency services Troy Grant announced the creation of the $1000 youth scholarship for training and educational materials or equipment.
“Our overall winner for the 2024 Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Youth Scholarship was our local surf life saver, Kayla McKenzie of the Wollongong City Surf Life Saving Club,” she said.
“She is studying to be a paramedic and is an amazing young woman.”
She said the criteria for the awards was service above self, which epitomised Rotary’s motto.
“It’s whatever a volunteer or a paid officer does in any one of those agencies to recognise their bravery, their kindness, and their selfless gift to our communities,” she said.
She said RESCA had featured many Illawarra recipients over the years, including Woonona Surf Life Saving Club member Morgan Clarke in a volunteer capacity in 2023, the award’s first recipient which was paramedic Carol Bond in a paid capacity, and paramedic Jess Whittaker in a paid capacity, who went on to win at the nationals in 2020.
“These people don’t do what they do for recognition, they do it because they’re dedicated,” she said.
“It’s not only their passion, it’s their dedication to the lives of others and their community.”
She said past winners, who were often the quiet achievers, had been “just so selfless” in what they had done within their communities.
“With the SES headquarters in Wollongong, it’s so special, and then with the Surf Life Saving this summer with all the rescues they did is amazing,” she said.
“Everybody knows somebody, so nominate them now.”
Judges assess nominees on their community service over and above the call of normal duties, which best exemplifies Rotary’s motto of service above self; their personal attributes; and contribution to their organisation.
Emergency service personnel can be nominated by a colleague, family member or community members and must be from one of the seven emergency services agencies.
Nominations close on 14 May, with the announcement of finalists on 17 June and awards dinner on 2 August.
Learn more about the awards and the Dorothy Hennessy scholarship, or nominate.
