News

NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) is encouraging everyone to show their appreciation for Australia’s 300,000 first responders today (Wednesday 9 June 2021), to mark Thank a First Responder Day.

More than 10,000 NSW SES members form part of the sea of people who put themselves in harm’s way during an emergency to provide life-saving assistance.

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York said NSW SES members don’t do what they do for rewards or recognition, but simply to keep others safe.

“Our members are volunteers, who freely give away their time to help the community.

“Today I’d encourage people to extend a simple ‘thank you’ their way. I know it’d mean the world to them, as it shows them their work does not go unnoticed,” she said.

Commissioner York said that over the past 12 months, NSW SES volunteers have responded to more than 42,000 requests for assistance.

“More than 10,000 of those were during the recent floods that affected the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, Hunter and Mid North Coast.

“While NSW SES volunteers are well-known for responding to storms and floods, they do so much more.

“Our members respond to tsunamis, road crash rescues, bush search and rescues and even support other emergency services by providing life-saving first aid.

“They also help communities that are not their own, including recently in Queensland and Western Australia, where they supported communities after catastrophic events,” Commissioner York said.

Use the hashtag #ThankAFirstResponder and #PowerOfThanks to show your support whenever you post a message of thanks.