The NSW Rural Fire Service and the Aboriginal Lands Council of NSW walked away with a state award on Thursday and Young played a key role in its win.
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RFS Regional west manager Paul Smith and Bush Fire Resilience for Aboriginal Communities (BRAC) project coordinator David Curry, who are both based at the regional west office in Lovell Street, attended the 2014 NSW Resilient Australia Awards ceremony at the NSW Parliament House in Sydney.
The Resilient Australia Awards recognises innovation in emergency management and community safety.
In the company of the NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, Minister for Police and Emergency Services Stuart Ayres presented six recipients in the four categories with their awards.
Among them was the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Aboriginal Lands Council of NSW under the category of State Government winners for their project Bush Fire Resilience for Aboriginal Communities (BRAC) Stage II.
It’s link with Young, Paul said, was that the project - spear-headed by David - was run out of the Young office.
The local team had worked with 34 former Aboriginal missions in rural fire districts across the state.
They engaged with the communities, conducted risk assessments from the impacts of bush fires and then carried out mitigation works to reduce the risk in those communities.
“So we completed a report on it and then treated it,” Paul said.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be recognised with this award. It was great cooperation between the communities and the RFS.”
He said they submitted a nomination for the project but didn’t expect they’d win.
“We passionately believe in what we do, it’s great.”
The NSW awards received over 35 nominees representing a wide selection of organisations and groups.
Mr Ayres said the awards showcased the achievements of community groups, emergency services, state and local government and universities in making NSW communities safer, more resilient and better equipped when faced with emergencies.
“The Resilient Australia Awards are a national initiative sponsored by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department in partnership with the State and Territories,” he said.
The NSW winners will now progress to the national finals in Canberra on November 24.