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Storm and Flood Assistance
Rotary Clubs of the ACT have recognised ACT emergency services staff and volunteers for their valuable contribution towards keeping the Canberra community safe with the awarding of the 2023 ACT Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA).
Eight finalists from the ACT Ambulance Service, ACT Fire & Rescue, ACT Rural Fire Service, ACT State Emergency Service, and ACT Policing were nominated by the ACT community for going above and beyond in their roles.
ACT State Emergency Service team member, Jason Blair was awarded the 2023 RESCA in a voluntary position.
Jason has been an ACT State Emergency Services member for 20 years. During this time, he has volunteered as a Trainer, Deputy Team Leader, Team Leader and Deputy Commander. He is a passionate member of the Service and spends much of his time mentoring and encouraging others as well as contributing ideas for positive changes and advancement of both the Woden and Tuggeranong units.
He has been consistently involved in operational responses including leading storm teams, community education events and searches. In 2019/2020 he participated in the quelling of the Black Summer Bushfires.
Jason is recognised by his fellow volunteers as having drive, integrity and, very importantly, putting others’ needs before his own.
Detective Sergeant Sharan Slater from ACT Policing was awarded the 2023 RESCA in a paid position.
Sharan has been a Police Officer for over 40 years and has been recognised for her distinguished service to the AFP and her work in the Volunteers in Policing Program (VIP Program) for the past 21 years. She was instrumental in making the VIP Program extremely successful and a leader within the volunteering sector. The VIP Volunteers provide significant support to the Police and to the community. In addition to her professional excellence, Sharan has consistently and positively contributed to a variety of community groups and projects
Sharon has previously been awarded the Australian Police Medal as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2016.
Congratulations to all the finalists!
Rural Fire Service in a paid position - Ailish Milner
Strategic Planner, Emergency Services HQ, Fairbairn
Ailish Milner is currently a Strategic Planner with the ACT Rural Fire Service and, is a current and active Fire Behaviour Analyst, a role she has held for more than a decade. Ailish sits on the AFAC Predictive Services Group. She was involved in the NSW RFS for over twenty years joining as a volunteer at 16 before transitioning to a staff member in her early 20’s. In addition to this Ailish was an active retained fire fighter with NSW Fire and Rescue for 16 years.
She is not only recognised for operations & teaching in fire behaviour and fire predicting but also for her continued dedication to firefighting. She has been accepted for interstate and international deployment which is a testament to her dedication and skill. Ailish has further demonstrated her ‘service beyond self’ by her ongoing mentoring of female members of the ACTRFS.
Rural Fire Service in a voluntary position - Gary Johnston
Firefighter, Hall Brigade
Gary Johnston is a voluntary firefighter with the ACT RFS who answered the call after the 2019/2020 bushfires. As a member of the Hall Brigade, he has transferred the skills he acquired with working in the ADF to operational, administrative and support areas of the RFS.
He has been involved in training, as the first aid officer in the management committee and promoting and supporting the aims of the RFS Womens’ Network.
Gary is a passionate community supporter and is an RFS participant in the Regenerate Capital Leadership program with the Rural Leadership Foundation, has recently been appointed as a Justice of the Peace and who is well respected by his colleagues.
SES in a paid position - Craig Hicks
Membership Officer , ACT State Emergency Service
Craig is the membership officer for the ACT SES and manages the membership of 385 volunteers. His goal is to improve the experience of SES volunteers. Craig delivers support services for volunteer recruitment, recognition and retention programs and is the action officer for reviewing and updating the SES membership policy.
Craig assumes the role of SES Duty Officer on a rotational basis where he is responsible for coordinating the ACT SES response to storm and flood incidents across the ACT. Craig served as a frontline medic in Afghanistan and has undertaken psychological studies focusing on the understanding of PTSD and the impacts of military service on young adults.
Prior to joining the SES as a paid employee, Craig was a team leader at Pialligo SES and is currently an active member of Woden SES. In 2021 and 2022, Craig undertook interstate deployments to the NSW and Victorian floods.
SES in a voluntary position - Jason Blair
Team Member , Tuggeranong SES
Jason has been an ACT State Emergency Services member for 20 years. During this time, he has volunteered as a Trainer, Deputy Team Leader, Team Leader and Deputy Commander. He is a passionate member of the Service and spends much of his time mentoring and encouraging others as well as contributing ideas for positive changes and advancement of both the Woden and Tuggeranong units.
He has been consistently involved in operational responses including leading storm teams, community education events and searches. In 2019/2020 he participated in the quelling of the Black Summer Bushfires.
Jason is recognised by his fellow volunteers as having drive, integrity and, very importantly, putting others’ needs before his own.
ACT Fire and Rescue in a paid position - Bernard Evans
Station Officer, Fyshwick
Bernie has been a loyal and committed member of ACT Fire and Rescue (ACTFR) for more than 30 years and is a Station Officer usually attached to HAZMAT at Fyshwick Fire Station. His service has been invaluable throughout this time. Bernie has also dedicated much of his own time to extend his professional knowledge and through his commitment to the organisation Bernie has been able to improve policy and procedures that have been presented to ACTF&R.
As a testament to this Bernie has delayed his retirement to assist in developing a carcinogen reduction strategy to reduce firefighter risk to the exposure of fire contaminants, as cancer is now considered the most significant hazard to firefighter health and wellbeing. Bernie has a wealth of knowledge and happily shares it with colleagues.
ACT Support Services in a paid position - Teagan Lee
Former Assistant Director, Public Information. Emergency Services HQ, Fairbairn.
Teagan in her role in the Public Information & Engagement team made a positive contribution to keeping both frontline workers and the Canberra community safe. In 2021, while working as the Assistant Director Public Information, she identified the need for a behaviour change campaign, targeted at reducing the instances of occupational violence against frontline workers and paramedics.
Teagan worked tirelessly with stakeholders to gain support and funding for the initiative. After more than twelve months of work, The ACT Ambulance Service Occupational Violence Campaign was released in early 2023.
Indeed, an achievement that will improve the working conditions of frontline workers including nurses, teachers and service centre staff for now and future years. Teagan’s initiative and drive to protect our front-line staff demonstrates her ‘Service above Self’ and ongoing commitment for the welfare of all.
ACT Ambulance in a paid position - Jack Dear
Paramedic
Jack is a paramedic with ACT Ambulance following a career in the Australian Defence Force. He is a committed and highly valued paramedic who demonstrates professionalism in all aspects in his role as Team Leader.
After a critical event Jack was awarded a Chief Officer’s Commendation. Jack’s commitment to training is evident as he ensures that all graduate paramedic co-workers are prepared for their final examinations and does so voluntarily in his own time.
Jack’s commitment to helping others is not limited to his career in the ACT Ambulance Service. He recently used his annual leave to travel to Ukraine where he volunteered, donating both his time and paramedic expertise to provide invaluable medical assistance to the Ukrainian community.
