FIVE Mid North Coast rescuers have been named as finalists in the 2025 NSW Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA), honouring their outstanding service and commitment to community safety.
Announced by Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib at a special event at Parliament House, the awards recognise 28 finalists across NSW.
The local finalists are:
– Garry Stephen Whitaker, NSW State Emergency Service, Hastings
– Natalie Boyd, NSW Ambulance, Taree
– Georgia Gaddes, Surf Life Saving NSW, South West Rocks
– Taylah Moffitt, Surf Life Saving NSW, Crescent Head
– Nicole Crowe, Surf Life Saving NSW, North Haven
RESCA is the only community-nominated program that celebrates all emergency services personnel, both paid and voluntary, in one combined awards platform.
Minister Dib praised the bravery and dedication of emergency responders.
“The community has the expectation, quite rightly, that whenever they are in need of an emergency response to fire, flood, accident, water-based incidents or medical emergencies, that the first responders will be there to assist,” he said.
“They put themselves into the forefront of danger or as the first responder to save lives, without fear or a thought for the risk they face, in many of these situations.”
The awards span seven agencies under the portfolios of Minister Dib and Minister for Health Ryan Park.
Winners for each service, two overall state winners, and one youth scholarship recipient, will be revealed at a gala event on Saturday 2 August at Bankstown Sports Club.
Overall winners for NSW will go on to represent the state at the National Awards in October at Government House, Yarralumla.
By Sis HIGGINS
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