National Emergency Medals were presented by the Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty at NSW Parliament to nine staff from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) who provided critical support during the 2019-20 bushfire emergency, thanking them for their dedication and support during the state crisis.
The medal recognises contributions during events like natural disasters that have serious consequences for the Australian community.
These staff rendered sustained or significant service during the 2019-20 bushfires across NSW which were declared a national-significant emergency.
The staff who became eligible for the National Emergency Medal worked in the Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA) team, which acts on preventing, preparing for, responding to and recovering from the impacts and effects of an emergency.
The AASFA is presently set up and operating in the response to the flood impacted communities and farmers of the Hunter and Mid North Coast, devastated by the recent flooding in the area.
The medals were presented by the Minister to staff who performed the crucial roles of Incident Controller, operations management, animal welfare response, and safety management at both local forward bases and regional control centres.
The recipients are among 575 staff from the Department, including Local Land Services, and other partners who are being recognised for their important work during the 2019-20 bushfires.
Their dedicated work included providing support to primary producers, animal evacuation sites and the community such as rescue, evacuation and emergency care for animals and providing emergency fodder and water for livestock in remote or stranded locations.
The Parliament House ceremony was the first presentation of the medal to staff from the Department before other events held in Armidale, Bega, Berry, Buronga, Deniliquin, Dubbo, Orange, Penrith, Tamworth, and Wollongbar, with two locations postponed because of the recent flooding.
DPIRD Director Emergency Management, Dr Leigh Pilkington, said the staff receiving medals were being awarded for their commitment to the community.
"The National Emergency Medal honours the selflessness and determination of all those who worked tirelessly through the devastating 2019-20 bushfires. I'm proud of the staff who stepped up to support communities in their greatest time of need," he said.
"The 2019-20 bushfire season tested the strength of our state, and the response from those on the frontline and those involved in the immediate relief efforts was nothing short of heroic.
"These medals will serve as a lasting reminder to all those involved, and as a thank you for their incredible efforts to safeguard our regional communities during a time of unimaginable challenge."
The National Emergency Medal is an award within the Australian honours system. It is given for sustained service during nationally significant emergencies or to individuals who have rendered significant service in response to such emergencies.
Summary of the 2019-2020 bushfires impact
Fires started during the winter of 2019 and continued to burn until the beginning of March 2020, burning millions of hectares of land, resulting in:
- the death of 34 people as a direct result of the fires
- 18 million hectares burned during the crisis
- 6.2% of NSW burnt, the largest area in recorded bushfire history
- more than 3,000 homes and 5,900 buildings destroyed
- hundreds of communities were threatened or displaced
- the habitat of an estimated 3 billion vertebrate animals was burned
- insurance costs were estimated at $2.32 billion
- prolonged smoke haze affected almost 80% of Australia's population for weeks at a time
Design of the National Emergency Medal and its symbolism
The National Emergency Medal is a circular medal, ensigned with the Australian Coat of Arms. The obverse depicts a central image of a Golden Wattle branch. Surrounding the image at the edge is a further depiction of the flowering wattle. The centre of the reverse has the same border as the obverse, but in the centre, it details by inscription the award and the recipient.
The colours of the ribbon are gold and eucalyptus green. Gold symbolises the Australian sun, optimism and hope. Eucalyptus green complements the symbolism of the medal design. The seven gold-coloured bands represent Australia's six states, with the seventh representing the territories.
