The Shoalhaven's finest emergency service personnel, on Saturday, were recognised for their heroic efforts in the fires and floods of last summer at the Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards ceremony that was held at the Emergency Centre, Nowra.
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In a joint initiative by Shoalhaven City Council and Rotary, all of the agencies were acknowledged for their courage, supreme efforts and unswerving dedication in the face of those calamities.
This was in addition to awarding those emergency service people who demonstrated Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self",
The winners of the Shoalhaven Officer of the Year Awards were for the Police "Sworn" category, Senior Constable Douglas Nyholm (Ulladulla Police Station); for the Salaried category, Peter Arndell NSW Ambulance Ulladulla; and for the Volunteer category, Dianne Heggie Rural Fire Service Tabourie Brigade.
Peter Arndell
Peter Arndell is a paramedic and has demonstrated an unwavering approach to assist people who need life-saving attention.
In his spare time, with Bendigo Bank, he is using their vehicle to assist disadvantaged youth in the Milton/Ulladulla and surrounding areas to gain log book hours for licences, thus assisting them to gain employment.
In the past, Peter has been a life saver and assisted the local club with first aid training.
Doug Nyholm
Doug Nyholm is a general duties officer at the Ulladulla Police.
During the Currowan Bushfire, and in addition to his normal duties, Doug assisted a local organisation, 'Treading Lightly', to distribute essential items to residents of Bawley Point, including delivering medications to a cancer sufferer.
On one occasion going through an active fire to deliver goods to the community.
He is also a part of a hard working committee that organises the 'Triple 000' Ball, an event which raises money for Emergency Services in the Milton Ulladulla Community.
Doug is also on the Lighthouse Mental Health program committee. Doug, for the past for 12 years, has also run a touch footy carnival in Narrandera that raises money for police families who are 'doing it tough'.
Dianne Heggie
Dianne Heggie is the current Captain at the Tabourie Rural Fire Service.
When she joined in 1989, she was the first female member of the Brigade; and has since obtained the many skills required to be an "Officer in Charge" of an operational truck, as well as gain the position of captain.
She has assisted NSW Ambulance on numerous occasions, including driving their vehicles and assisting with the safety of the paramedics on duty.
Through her influence she has enlisted her three daughters into the Brigade who have taken various roles. She has created meeting place for a Lake Tabourie social group known as Tuesday Ladies, who are instrumental in fund raising for the Tabourie brigade
Dianne has also been involved in the development of several members who have gone on to full careers in the Emergency Services whether at Fire Control in Nowra, or Sydney or State Mitigation.
These Awards were open to all Shoalhaven-based personnel, both salaried and volunteer, from the NSW Police and Emergency Service Agencies in the Shoalhaven:
Four Rotary Clubs in the Shoalhaven - Berry, Bomaderry, Milton-Ulladulla and Nowra - were proud to promote the "Shoalhaven Emergency Services Community Awards" in 2020 to acknowledge the community service of NSW Police and Emergency Services personnel in the Shoalhaven.
Thank you sincerely to our partners in this program, without your support we would not be able to conduct this event. Our Principal Partners are Air Affairs Australia and Choice Pharmacy; our Gold Partners are 2ST/PowerFM and South Coast Register; and our Silver Partners - Shoalhaven City Council and Vincentia Dental Care.