By Alison Jack, Director, Admire Events
Every now and again you have the pleasure of getting to work on events that just work out to be a win win for all involved. You know the sort – the ones that just leave you with a warm, fuzzy feel good kind of feeling.
Our client, Rotary Districts and Clubs of NSW and ACT, in keeping with their organisation moto of “Service Above Self” pulled off a wonderful win win win event. Building from a modest event based in the Illawarra area, south of Sydney, a few dedicated and passionate Rotarians really saw the event soar on Friday at the Bankstown Sports Club’s Grand Ballroom. The Rotarians and Emergency Services all hold close ties with the Bankstown Sports Club as they work together to support the community.
The Rotary NSW & ACT Emergency Services Community Awards 2018, hosted by volunteer Rotarians, shines the spotlight on the relentless and tiring work done by both paid and volunteer emergency service personnel in the NSW and ACT. The community based nominations for emergency services personnel are judged and reduced to just 32 well deserving finalists.
The level of recognition that this event has received as it’s built over the years has seen His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) Governor of New South Wales as it’s Patron, the Premier of NSW Gladys Berejiklian MP as its Ambassador and the Minister for Emergency Services The Honourable Troy Grant’s unwavering support especially with his creation of a new scholarship to support emergency service volunteers under 21 years.
A crowd of 345 guests came together to celebrate the recognition of these fabulous men and women, the win win, of an organisation of volunteers recognising some of the hardest working in our state doesn’t stop there. This event brought with it the support of many wonderful organisations who too stand by the “Service Above Self”. With their support, the annual event raises money that cycles back into funding a PhD in Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome in emergency services personnel. An essential cause given all that they are exposed to in their roles. It also funds a multi-agency vocational training team to head to Vanuatu to facilitate training in best practices in emergency and disaster preparedness.
The event completes the full cycle – Rotarian volunteers recognising emergency service volunteers and paid personnel to raise funds for a PhD and training that will further benefit more emergency service personnel. It’s an honour to work with a client that pushes and promotes an end goal of helping others.
Imagine if we all conducted ourselves in a “Service Above Self” motto, how great the world would be, and the positive and financial legacy that could be left by all events we manage.
