Community
21 May, 2026
Nominate a first responder for Rotary awards
Rotary District 9675, of which the Southern Highlands is a part, are looking for the best first responder in emergency services throughout the region.
Rotary District 9675, of which the Southern Highlands is a part, are looking for the best first responder in emergency services throughout the region.
The Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA) are now in their 17th year and recognise the outstanding service of emergency service personnel and volunteers.
The awards were first developed in 2009 by a few dedicated and passionate Rotarians in the Illawarra who recognised the value of not only our paid, but also our volunteer Emergency Services personnel.
A pilot was hosted by nine Illawarra clubs over three years, moving to a State Project in 2015.
Awards are presented to all sectors of emergency services, including Police, Fire and rescue services, the Rural Fire Service (RFS), the State Emergency Service (SES), Ambulance, and other volunteer rescue organisations.
The purpose of the awards is to:
Recognise exceptional service and leadership;
Strengthen ties between Rotary clubs and emergency services;
Promote community awareness of the vital role these services play; and
Encourage pride and morale within emergency service organisations.
They also reflect Rotary’s motto, which is ‘Service above Self.’
The Project has also enjoyed Vice Regal Patronage by the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley since their inception.
“In keeping with the Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self,” RESCA acknowledges and celebrates the selfless Community Service of Emergency Services Personnel whilst also supporting and funding two important Rotary initiatives,” a Rotary spokesperson told The Southern Wire.
“These initiatives are:
Australian Rotary Health – a PhD Research Scholarship investigating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Emergency Services Personnel; and
Emergency and Disaster Preparedness training by a competitively selected Vocational Training Team connected with a developing country in the Asia/Pacific region.”
Another component of the awards is the Dorothy Hennessy OAM Emergency Service Youth Scholarship.
This scholarship is aimed at Emergency Service volunteers aged up to 25 years who show outstanding skills in the area they work in.
The scholarship is a $1,000 cash payment which goes towards training and educational materials or equipment.
Nominations for the awards already closed on April 30, however the announcement of finalists is set to be made on Tuesday 23 June, with the Awards dinner to be hosted on Saturday August 1.
For more information on the other aspects of the awards and who the patrons are and more, go to https://www.rotarydistrict9675.org/sitepage/resca/welcome.
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