One is a highly respected and experienced duty commander for Fire and Rescue, another has been serving the community through the State Emergency Service since he was 14 and the final person has been a lifeline for those recovering from the 2013 bushfire emergency; but all three have been honoured with a NSW Premier's Community Services Award.
At a ceremony in Springwood last week Inspector Bruce Cameron, Fire and Rescue NSW; John Hughes OAM, NSW State Emergency Service Unit Commander with the Blue Mountains and Anne Crestani, Step by Step Recovery Support Service manager respectively were all honoured.
The NSW Community Services Award is a prestigious award, nominated by local Members of Parliament and residents, and recognises the work of those who have supported and strengthened the resilience of their communities in the face of natural disaster.
After the summer of 2019/20, Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle believes these awards are an essential platform for paying tribute to our local heroes.
"After our blackest of summers these awards are a crucial reminder of the incredible people we have in our community who work tirelessly to keep us safe and to offer much needed support as the long road to recovery continues," Ms Doyle said.
"And whilst, understandably, our community is forever grateful to the Rural Fire Service for all that they do, it's important to honour others in our community who are also deserving of our gratitude, admiration and recognition for their incredible work. It is a collaborative effort to protect and support the Blue Mountains."
Ms Doyle highlighted the contribution to community made by each of this year's Blue Mountains' recipients:
In the dangerous world of firefighting and rescue, duty commander Bruce Cameron instills a sense of confidence and care in everyone and everything he oversees. He is well known for his environmental advocacy through work as a historian, conservationist, author and artist. He is also emphatically in favour of the science of, and action required around climate change.
Since the 2013 bushfire emergencies, under the skilful and compassionate guidance of Anne Crestani, Step by Step Recovery Support Services has been providing families and individuals from the Mountains and beyond with necessary, intensive support. Together with her team, they have been a lifeline to so many people as they navigate their way through the recovery process. The role that community services play in recovery cannot be underestimated.
John Hughes has dedicated himself to serving the community since age 14, when he joined the SES to pursue his fascination with communication systems. He is recognised as a skilled operator, a leader and loyal team player who inspires confidence in those around him, on both a professional and personal level.
Ms Doyle said she felt "immense pride in presenting these esteemed awards to Bruce, Anne and John, each of them such worthy recipients".
