The Milton-Ulladulla Red Cross Emergency Services held its Bushfire Emergency Citation Award Ceremony on Friday, November 20 at the Civic Centre Ulladulla.
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Poppy Brown, Director NSW/ACT Red Cross presented the awards on behalf of the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Diana Bernardi, Emergency Service Manager NSW/ACT also attended.
Fifteen members attended the afternoon tea, with 22 members in total receiving the award.
Margaret Peppitt, team leader emergency services, delivered the following emotional speech on the day;
"I and my team would like to thank the Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian for awarding us this 'Bushfire Emergency Citation' and to Red Cross for holding this special event.
"It means a lot to each and everyone of us. From December 1, 2019 we opened an evacuation centre for the Brooman fires and residents from Bawley Point, Kioloa, Termeil and surrounding areas were evacuated and visited us for eight days.
"In that time we made many new friends including new members who are now on the team and were able to work in the Recovery Centre before it closed.
"We opened up four evacuation centres and one recovery centre in total, finally closing 21st March just as COVID-19 was beginning.
"We worked in this centre for 90 days in total. The biggest of the evacuation centres started December 31 with the threat of hot weather with changes of winds later in the day and the fires heading towards Ulladulla.
"People started filtering into the centre from 9am and felt happy they were in a safe place. Gradually as the day got hotter the winds stronger and all the side and main roads were closed, the centre was filling up with locals and travellers also dogs, cats, birds, a pet snake, rabbits, roosters, you name it, we had it in the centre.
"Around 2pm the power went off and we were trying to register people with our torches from our Go Bags and I used a camp lamp from my van.
"Two and a half hours later power was restored with the help of the carnival beside the centre. Everyone cheered and the dogs barked for joy.
"By 10pm we and other services had registered 1170 people and were still going. Salvation Army set up barbecues to feed people.
"The call went out on Facebook for bedding and clothing (many people only had the clothes they were standing in) Locals came from everywhere and we managed to bed down 800 people in the centre.
The last person to stay in the centre overnight was a gentleman celebrating his 100th birthday. A cake was organised and everyone sang happy birthday. He said it was the best birthday ever.
"We heard many stories of bravery and sadness as people filtered into the centre. I am sure some of the stories will stay with us for ever. But this is what we do.
"The Red Cross PFA training really helped us to understand the wants of people, show compassion and how to listen. Thank you Red Cross Emergency Services we are living proof it definitely works.
"At the beginning of this event I had 17 members and three deputies; Nara Ballhouse, Dawn Burgess and Margaret Oosting who was my rock. A special thank you, I could not have got through this without you.
"I would also like to give a special thank you the Lesley Harper and Joycelyn Bowles who stepped up and held the fort in so many ways and are now deputies.
Richard Lake, another big thank you. I am very proud of my wonderful team. You are all amazing people we have become great friends and the best team ever.
As of this week I now have 31 members on the team. A big thank you to the relief Emergency Service members who travelled down to Ulladulla to assist our very tired members over the days and months. Some of you are here today. You are all amazing.
The centre may be closed but the team are still working in recovery, visiting small towns and villages in RFS sheds helping with updated grants and listening to peoples stories also we have been doing letterbox drops.
A lot of people have passed by just to say thank you which is very rewarding. Coming up to Christmas and the New Year it will be a very hard time for many people in this Shoalhaven area and all along the coast.
The team will be attending functions both big and small with our Recovery Officer Karen Akehurst. Just to see us at events puts a smile on peoples faces.
We are All very proud members of our Milton-Ulladulla Red Cross Branch. Stay safe everyone and God bless you All.
