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Volunteers from the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) have been recognised for their diligent service to their community at an awards ceremony in Goulburn. On Saturday 29th June 2019, NSW SES Commissioner Kyle Stewart presented a number of NSW SES members with very special awards.

NSW SES congratulates all the humble recipients and hope to acknowledge more dedicated members in the near future. 

National Medal

The National Medal recognises long and diligent service in organisations that protect life and property at some risk to their members.  The Medal is awarded to persons for long service in eligible organisations who fulfil the primary function and meet other criteria.  Fifteen years eligible service is necessary to qualify for the Medal. Clasps are available for each additional 10-year period.

Award Recipients – National Medal

• National Medal – Denise Perry
• National Medal – Luke Roberson
• National Medal – Gary Poile

Long Service Award

The Long Service Award is awarded to members of the NSW SES who have achieved a period of diligent service of five (5) years, and then every five years’ service anniversary thereafter.

Award Recipients – Long Service Award

• 20 Year Long Service Award – William Taylor
• 15 Year Long Service Award – Denise Perry
• 15 Year Long Service Award – Gary Poile
• 15 Year Long Service Award – Luke Roberson
• 10 Year Long Service Award – Anthorr Nomchong
• 10 Year Long Service Award – Denise Perry
• 10 Year Long Service Award – Gary Poile

Commissioner's Commendation for Service

Awarded for exemplary service to the NSW SES.  This includes, but is not restricted to, special project work, an initiative or innovation that improves the NSW SES. 

A Director General’s Commendation was introduced in 1991 by the then Director-General, Major General Hori Howard, who recognised a need to reward outstanding Courage or Service within the NSW SES.

In November 2001, the then Director-General, Brigadier Philip McNamara CSC, ESM, OAM following a submission from NSW SES State Protocol and supported by the NSW SES Volunteers Association to bring our commendation into line with other Emergency Services Commendations, instituted the Commissioner’s Commendation for Service and Commissioner’s Commendation for Courage to be worn on the right hand side of the uniform.

The colours of the ribbon are the official colours of the NSW SES. The configuration of the ribbon stripes is in keeping with other Emergency Services and the device at the base of the ribbon drape is an oxidised brass NSW SES badge.

More about the recipients 

Denise Perry -  National Medal and 15 Year Long Service 

Denise joined the NSW SES Bigga Unit in 2001 as Deputy Unit Commander and LSO Course Administrator and has been the Unit Commander since 2013.

Denise works tirelessly as a Community First Responder.  Her three daughters - Amber, Hanna and Jennifer are also Bigga SES members.

Denise is a recipient of the NSW SES 5 Years Long Service Award.

Picture left to right:  NSW SES Commissioner Kyle Stewart, award recipient Denise Perry and South Eastern Zone Commander Colin Malone

Luke Roberson – National Medal and 15 Year Long Service

Luke has been an active member of Cooma Unit since 2001 and is a valued LSO Administrator and General Land Rescue Operator responding to road crash rescues on a regular basis.  He has held various roles during this time including - Team Leader, Deputy Unit Controller, Administration Officer, Training Coordinator and in 2017 as Local Commander.

Luke is a recipient of the NSW SES 2007 SES State Medal for the Hunter/Sydney Storms and NSW SES 5 & 10 Year Long Service Awards.

Picture left to right: Luke Roberson and NSW SES Commissioner Kyle Stewart.

Gary Poile ESM – National Medal and 15 Year Long Service

Gary joined the Gunning SES Unit in 1997 along with his wife Felicity.  He was appointed to the role of Local Controller for Gunning Shire and established the Gunning Unit soon after by recruiting and training members from across the Shire.

Gary became an active member of the Southern Highlands Division leadership team as a "task force commander" during a number of significant events, including the Thredbo Landslide, Wollongong Flood, Sydney Hailstorm, Canberra Bushfires and several storm events in the Sydney Metropolitan area including Hornsby, Greystanes and Campbelltown. 

From 2000 to 2004 he was an active member of the Southern Highlands Training Team and helped implement competency based training, especially in the area of Storm and Water Damage and Chainsaw Operations.

Gary stood down as Local Controller for Gunning in 2006 after the Shire was merged with Crookwell Shire to form the Upper Lachlan Shire, but continued as a volunteer and trainer with the Gunning Unit until 2012 when was once more appointed to the role of Unit Controller.

Continued in role of Gunning Unit Controller until 2015 when the Unit undertook a restructure, relocation and name change to become the Collector Unit – a position he still holds today.

Gary was named the Upper Lachlan Shire Citizen of the Year in the Australia Day 2019 Honours List.

Gary is a recipient of the Emergency Services Medal and the ACT Emergency Medal.

Picture left to right: Gary Poile and NSW SES Commissioner Kyle Stewart.

William (Bill) Taylor – 20 Year Long Service Award Clasp

Bill joined the NSW SES Ku-ring-gai Unit in 1998, later transferring to the Snowy River Unit in 2012.  During this time he has held various roles including – Administration Officer, LSO Course Administrator, Deputy Local Commander, Unit Commander and now as Local Commander, Snowy-Monaro.

Bill is a recipient of the 2007 State Medal for the Hunter/Sydney Storms, NSW SES Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation, NSW SES Commissioner’s Letter of Appreciation, NSW SES 5, 10 & 15 Year Long Service Awards and the National Medal.

Picture left to right: William Taylor and NSW SES Commissioner Kyle Stewart.

Anthorr Nomchong – 10 Year Long Service Award Clasp

Anthorr joined the Goulburn SES Unit in 2008 and was promoted to Team Leader in 2010.  He has also held other roles including Deputy Local Controller, Training & Logistics. He transferred to Sutton in 2017 where he was promoted to Unit Commander.

During this time he attended the Goulburn 2010 floods, was deployed to Queensland Cyclone Yasi in 2011, Port Stephens in 2013 as Incident Controller, Blue Mountains to provide support to firefighting efforts in 2013.

Picture left to right: Anthorr Nomchong and NSW SES Commissioner Kyle Stewart.

Kurt Bailey – Commissioner's Commendation for Service

Since Kurt’s appointment to the position of Yass Unit Controller (now Local Commander – Yass-Hilltops Cluster), his achievements and accomplishments have included the following:

Member Recruitment

• Increase in unit membership

Cultural Change

• Greater morale evident with an average of 30+ members attending weekly training
• Willingness of members to commit to additional duties and training days to assist in the further development of the unit
• Return of inactive members to active duty
• Improved image in the community.
• Established positive working relationships with other emergency services, local councilors and council officers allowing a more streamlined interoperability
• Re-establishment of a functioning and effective Senior Leadership Team.
• Encouraging and implementing gender equality within the unit

Capability Improvements

• Development of a unit training calendar that addresses the identified deficiencies in the training needs analysis
• Establishment of cross unit training to develop operational capability across the cluster of Yass, Harden and Young Units
• Quality of training has been enhanced through the Training Support Team providing mentoring, support and guidance to our new and established trainer and assessors.

Community Engagement

• Improved profile with the local print media and radio station to raise awareness
• Increased presence on social media

Picture left to right: Kurt Bailey and NSW SES Commissioner Kyle Stewart.